A/N: I put the results of the vote on my profile, but I'll repeat it here. It has been decided that Harry will not have a romantic relationship in the near future. That would have to wait until he merges with all his personalities and I don't plan on doing that any time soon. The whole point of this story was so I could write about a character with Harry's condition and I don't plan on removing that anytime soon. Thanks for the votes. I'm glad the majority of you guys agree that romance for Harry would be too much and unrealistic for the reality I've created here. I'm considering side relationships, though. Like for Neville, or hooking up Ron and Hermione, so this story won't be completely without, but that might not happen till 5th year or so.

A/N2: Someone asked how to pronounce Silas' name: it's SIGH-lus.

A/N3: Someone asked for my help/opinion on something in a review. I tried to answer by sending an e-mail, but the e-mail kept coming back to me saying there was some problem and it couldn't be delivered. I already deleted the review, so now I don't even remember who sent me the request. Sorry. All I can say is try again. I don't mind answering any questions or helping out with whatever.

Shadows and Light

"I was once very much like you." Severus began. "I trusted no one and hated everyone who had power and control over my life. My family away from Hogwarts was very… oppressive, and the castle was no refuge. The war was really getting started and the House rivalry you experience now is nothing compared to what it can become. I was Slytherin, small in stature and of the habit of not fighting back when provoked or attacked. I would always lash out later, from the shadows; usually with potions so that no one could trace the act back to me.

"I craved power to defend myself, to prove to everyone that I was a force to be reckoned with. When school came to an end, I couldn't care less about the war or people dieing. I was sick of always being on the bottom, sick of the pain of being constantly stomped on." Severus looked away from the wall and met his young student's neutral emerald gaze. "I was offered a chance to rise above masses and couldn't look beyond myself to recognize the trap for what it was. I was slowly inducted into the Death Eaters. I became Voldemort's slave."

Images slid into Silas' mind and he didn't fight them… Screams of a horrendous pitch swirled around his head, flashes of angry spells, the hungry presence of a pack of slavering humans intent on a feed, bowing down, kissing robes, hellish laughter, pitiful sobs, the stench of death and pain and fear, and throughout all, a persistent feeling of emptiness and isolation…

"My magical growth spurt came late. I was a late bloomer, you can say." He smiled grimly. "I started to come into my magic and I was powerful. My Master, of course, took credit for it and I believed him. By this point I was coming down from my high of finally having power over others and was starting to frown at the way my Master ruled so completely over me. So I grasped on to any rationalization and excuse I could to justify my continual slavery to this man."

…brewing potions no one had ever thought of before, relishing the sheer power of them, crawling to your master's feet and being pet like a dog and feeling so much pride that you are being favored; glee and triumph is your sole response when you are given permission to try out your fabulous creation. You poor the potion down the throat of a man and the screams begin as his insides begin to invert. The convulsions are so bad that he snaps his own spine. It takes days for him to die and you feel smug at the accomplishment. That's the hardest part, after all, keeping the test subject alive through the effects…

"The war got more violent. We went on raid after raid. Hundreds were tortured and killed. I had been pushed and broken by people all my life and I didn't feel a bit of remorse for my actions. My victims always deserved it. They were nothing but my enemies. I saw even my fellow Death Eaters that way. I was as alone as ever and I thought I was happy because life didn't hurt me anymore. It was only hurting others and what did I care about them?"

… You are looking down at the hands that belong to you and see blood there, but are unable to feel it on your own skin. Denial is a thick cloak around your mind as you stand in a circle surrounding a mere child as she is tortured. The spell is eating the flesh from her hands and she is screaming, screaming… A sharp knife is thrown to her and in her madness she cuts off the hand that torments her so. Stupid brat, you think heartlessly, even as reality seems to tremble at the edges of your mind, promising equal pain once you succumb. She should have killed her self, now she's howling with misery as she realizes she can't cut off the other hand without the one she removed…

"The Dark Lord was becoming increasingly bold and ruthless. I don't think, deep down, that he actually thought he could win, and when he began to succeed he started to go a bit mad. One day, I was called to a meeting. Voldemort tortured me and several others. We hadn't done anything wrong. He was just in a foul mood for a reason we couldn't fathom. It was then I realized that I was more helpless than I had ever been and everything I'd done to make myself invulnerable was for nothing."

… Walking proudly into your place only to be sent to the ground screaming in pain. Why were you being punished? You are loyal and you are powerful and skilled and brilliant. Your master needs you. You are favored and special. Why? Then the pain is too much and you can't think of anything. When the pain fades you attack the others. They attack you back. You know one of them did this. Your master wouldn't hurt you other wise. They are out to get you. They are jealous. You tear through their mind and are shocked to find their innocence in this matter. There was no plot against you. No plot, no reason for being punished, you had done nothing wrong and are helpless from keeping it from happening again; helpless and in pain. Feeling small and frightened as you realize you're living within a nightmare…

"It was sudden and very painful, this realization." Severus said softly and finally broke his gaze from the teen across from him to stare at the fire. "My next raid, I couldn't see our victims as I had before. I wasn't exactly empathizing with them, not yet, but feeding off pain, despair, and cruelty didn't strike me as attractive any longer. It lost its meaning because it could no longer protect me or make me think I was strong. All I could think about were the strings controlling me. My only goal was to please my Master and I was sickened.

"But I was helpless to fight back. I couldn't back out. I was Marked and that was soul-deep. The Dark Lord would always find me. But I couldn't do it anymore, either. My sanity was teetering and I fled to the one place I could think of. I fled to Dumbledore." Severus sighed and again glanced at the teen across from him. Silas was sitting still and patient. He continued. "I threw myself at his feet. I begged for a way out, for mercy. I pleaded for forgiveness. And he reached down and lifted me to my feet. He said not to grovel to him; said that I had to prove myself by showing strength and by standing-up straight.

"I'll never forget that. I was at my lowest, contemplating suicide even, and this man made me feel more powerful than the Dark Lord ever had. It was then I decided to support Dumbledore and his cause. I became a spy. I avoided raids and revels as much as I could, but eventually I had to go. Being a spy made me feel in control of it again and I told myself I had to be strong to prove myself. I did as I had to."

…Attending meetings and knowing what would happen there. You walk among others and see yourself in their faces. You see your past and it's like a fever dream as you watch yourself be that person once more. Deep inside you cling to the knowledge that you are not in the past, that you are there to complete a job that will save lives. You are important and desperately needed. You are strong. You are only pretending to be weak. The screams are no longer distant and you see yourself in the face of the tortured. But you aren't that person anymore. You are no longer weak. You have found true strength. You have to tell yourself this over and over because you're hands are shaking and your mask is breaking…

"The war ended, as you know, the night you shattered the Dark Lord's power and his body. Stray Death Eaters were still about, but the world was free. Peace came and with it a woman I fell in love with. She was the one to teach me that other people matter. She helped me through the pain of realizing that all my victims were people too. She taught me to trust again."

…Something is happening and you are helpless to stop it. You can only sit back and watch as emotions begin to swirl inside unhindered. You're afraid at first because it is so uncontrolled and you can't be out of control; you can't stand the mere thought of helplessness. But as much as it is frightening, there is something soothing, something promising under the surface. You can't recognize it and it hurts, but you're helpless to stop it. And you hate being helpless, but this is freedom. The thing you want more than anything, so you let the emotions come and just hope and pray and force yourself to have faith that you will survive it…

"Silas, I can't describe to you what it was like to finally heal. I had never known that I was ill or realized the pain I was in before her, but when relief came it was indescribable. I wept for days." Severus stood and walked to the fireplace to poor a drink. Silence covered them for several minutes until the dark-eyed man returned to his place. "If I hadn't isolated myself as I had in my attempt to make myself invulnerable from humanity, I would not have made the mistakes I had. I'm not saying you will go out and become a mass-murder as I did, but you are walking down a dangerous road.

"Don't get me wrong. This isn't a request that you go prancing about like a Hufflepuff with your heart on your sleeve and spouting out sonnets of devotion to those around you. I still don't enjoy being with people or even trust a good many of them. Keeping people at arms-length is wise when you can't be sure where your enemies lie, but cutting yourself off from others completely and convincing yourself of the general worthlessness of mankind is not the answer either."

"What are you trying to say?" Silas asked narrowly, fighting against the images and impressions still echoing through his mind.

"I know what it is to be hurt. I know what it is to think the world is against you and not wanting to let it in." Severus leaned forward, his voice low and intense. "I know, Silas. I'm not giving you pity. You are not a charity case. This isn't exaggeration. I've honestly been where you are, been through the hell you are approaching. And I tell you this:

"You cannot allow yourself to strip away your compassion, empathy, and trust of humanity. If you do that, then soon you will see people as animals. You will kill all of your emotions and you will die slowly. That is the way you are headed, Silas. You can't bring yourself to trust anyone and soon you won't be able to care about anyone but yourself either. You will become numb to the pain you are causing others and you won't even realize that the one you are hurting most is yourself."

"Please." Silas sneered. "This is a load of rubbish. I am not making myself heartless. Just because I favor reason over emotions, doesn't mean I deny them. Neither does not trusting you mean I don't trust anybody."

"Who do you trust, Silas?" Severus asked coldly. "Name one person. Just one."

Silence.

"I know you have some care toward Neville, but it is distant. You are indifferent to Black and Lupin. You hate Dumbledore," he held up his hand when Silas narrowed his eyes, "Not that I blame you. I am no longer blind to his faults and am well aware of how unforgivable his actions have become." Severus eyes pierced through him. "Do you even trust Harry? Gabriel? I know you care for them, but do you honestly trust them?"

Silas looked away, face blank.

"You only trust yourself and that will soon grow into something worse. I am not speaking melodramatically. I am not preaching about goodness and light. I am speaking from past experience. I am trying to save you from the hell I went through. I almost didn't survive it. I am still not fully recovered to this day and I will never be able to escape what I've done. I'm giving you warning. Please consider what I've said."

"Who would you suggest I trust? You?" Silas sneered, his eyes bright. Severus recognized it as the defensive action it was. "You've betrayed us twice. I don't care what excuses and justifications you've given me about them. That doesn't change the fact that you have. You obviously don't recommend Dumbledore. And you can't be serious about trusting Neville. He's just a child with his own problems. He can hardly be trusted to care for himself, let alone be trusted with our problems and concerns. Sirius is insane and Remus has too many ties to Dumbledore. Should I go back and trust my remaining blood-relatives? Obviously not."

"People are not perfect, Silas." Severus answered calmly. "The world and its circumstances are not perfect either. You will never find a person that will never disappoint you or go against your wishes at least once. And you will never be that perfect to anyone else in return. But you can trust that some people will always guard your interests and well-being; will listen to what you say and respect you. As much as I'm loath to say it, Lupin is trustworthy in that nature. As am I, despite you're refusal to believe it. Neville is as well. I am indeed suggesting you consider opening up to us and allowing yourself to trust that we will not intentionally harm you or your interests."

"And if I don't, I am dooming my soul to punishment and death? I don't need anyone and I'm not you, Severus. Don't insult me." Silas sneered viciously. He stood and made his way to the door. "I'm finished here."

"Consider what I've said, Silas."

"As Gabriel would say, fuck off." And he was gone.

xXxXxXx

"Hey, Neville." Harry smiled as he walked into the library.

The Gryffindor looked up with a smile of his own. "Is it my turn already?"

"I got out ten minutes early. How's the Animagus studying going?"

"Slowly." Neville sighed and showed the smaller teen where he was so that Harry could pick up where he was leaving off.

Harry listened to Neville's summery of what he had learned so far. It really was complicated, but they were determined to do it. When ten minutes passed, Neville hurried away to go to Severus for his meditation exercises, leaving Harry alone to wade through the difficult process they had chosen to study. Harry tugged a clean piece of parchment over so that he could ask Silas for tips and clarification when he needed to. He sighed. Without his Slytherin alter helping him, he would never understand this. A good perk to choosing this subject was that he was certain to do much better in Transfiguration this year as his understanding of the subject was expanding rapidly.

Silas, what does it mean when it says the Animagus transformation is an inner change and not an outer? I thought you kept your human mind as an Animagus? He wrote. There was a long pause, but it was Gabriel who answered.

Silas is sleeping, but I think I can help with this question. You do keep your mind and you do change your physical shape, but unlike someone else transforming you into whatever they wish, your own spirit transforms you into its most compatible shape. So I think it means that it is a spell that starts on the inside and works its way out.

Oh. Thanks. Harry smiled, but it wilted with worry. Is Sy alright?

Yeah. We do need sleep, just not as often as you. Gabriel reassured.

Okay. Harry nodded. Would it help if I sleep too? Maybe that way I won't disturb him.

No. You're fine. Keep working. I want to see our form.

Me too. Harry smiled and went back to work.

xXxXxXx

Silas was indeed sleeping, but it wasn't by choice. He frowned as sleep tugged at him and made his way to his bedroom. He was stumbling by the time he reached the bed and was unconscious before he hit the pillow. Dreams weren't normal inside the soul rooms. Only when they were Out and fell asleep would they dream. Sleeping in the soul-chambers was a half-aware state where they were conscious of time passing, but all is black restfulness where they recharge their energy supply and unconsciously organize the information they were accumulating. This time was different. This time, Silas dreamed…

… He was floating. Floating in darkness. Voices and sounds reached his ears slowly. Trees in a wind; animals moving, breathing, living. There were footsteps heralded by snapping twigs and shaking bushes. Heavy panting reached his ears and the wheeze in it suggested emotion. Was it panic? Fear? Anger? Something is dragging behind the loud steps.

Slowly, his blind eyes open, only to find branches blocking most of his view. It is dark, but the stars and moon are bright. Directly under him, the panting is coming from a man he can't quite see. But he could see clearly the woman struggling in magical binds behind him. Her eyes are wide with terror.

"Master! I-I-I was re-r-recognized! I d-d-don't know why she's here, Master! W-w-what should I do?" The man begged and pleaded and Silas sneered in disgust from his place hidden in the tree.

"Bring her forth. Let me see what you've brought…" A slithering, cold voice sliced through the air from within the tree trunk.

"Yes, Master!"

Wormtail. Silas recognized him as soon as the man came within sight. The traitor dragged the woman over and dropped her at the base of the tree. She stilled as if she were already a corpse, but the terror in her eyes was still very much alive. There was a sickening hiss and then a low chuckle.

"You are very lucky, my servant… This lost little girl is very special, aren't you little one? … Yes, special indeed… Someone placed a memory charm on her. A strong one. What secrets lie within your mind?"

The woman jerked a few times and then went limp.

"Ahhh…." The cold voice was gleeful. "Yes! … This is the chance we've been waiting for…. Wormtail! …. We leave at first light. It is time to go back. I have a loyal servant waiting impatiently for me."

"Yes, Master!" Wormtail groveled.

"Avada Kevadra!" Voldemort snapped and then began to laugh.

Silas didn't fight the pull as everything began to get dark again. He couldn't repress a shiver as the evil laughter followed him and he wondered what the dead woman had known that pleased Voldemort so much. More importantly, who did she know that would give the evil bastard confidence enough to come crawling back to England? …

Silas sat up in his bed and looked around his soul-room. The fire was flickering gently and all his books gleamed from their shelves with promised knowledge. It was eerie, after what he just saw, and he threw back the green covers. He checked his appearance in his mirror, combing out his hair, and left for the sitting room to see what he had missed on the Outside. Gabriel was sitting on the couch and turned his blue eyes toward him.

"You alright?" He asked.

Silas hesitated. His natural response would be to sneer and ignore the hero, but… the flashes he'd picked up from his session with Professor Snape that morning still flickered at the back of his mind. He wasn't into self-deception. He needed to know the threats they were facing, especially the ones that came from within, and be able to evaluate them correctly. And Snape's prediction was a threat. If opening up to someone would prevent the devastation Professor Snape saw in their future, then he'd have to do so. He had to learn to trust, at least a little bit. Locking himself away would poison himself and, through him, the rest of their shared mind. He couldn't afford to let that happen. Believe it or not, the only person Silas could see himself trusting, even just a little bit, was Gabriel.

"I had a dream." He admitted, facing his Gryffindor counterpart. "More like a vision."

"Oh yeah?" Gabriel looked interested. "What did you see?"

And so Silas told him.

"What does it mean? What do we do?" The auburn-haired teen asked seriously.

"I think the vision is self explanatory." Silas sneered. "As for what we do…. We wait. We keep on the look out and we prepare."

"Should we tell someone?" Gabriel frowned.

"Who? Snape?" Silas shook his head. "We don't know anything yet and, until we do, it'd be pointless to tell him. I want to keep this ability secret for a while. Lord knows what will happen if people find out Harry Potter has a mental connection to the Dark Lord."

"How do you have a connection to the Dark Lord?" Gabriel leaned forward, his elbows on his knees and his hands hanging loosely between his legs.

"Demon." Silas smirked. He sat back into the couch and looked at the Gryffindor from the corner of his eyes. "I guess I'm the closest one to Demon and so I get the visions. I'm not complaining. It is really good for us to know what that bastard is up to. Protect us from being surprised."

Gabriel shook his head, "So Demon is a part of Voldemort's soul and you are seeing echoes of what the Dark Bastard is up to. But… Demon is also a part of our soul, so… Can Voldemort see echoes of what we're doing?"

"Probably not because our mind is fractured into several personalities. It makes our end of the link a knot and harder to penetrate. Though the possibility is there, especially through me since I seem to be closest to Demon. That's why I'm learning Occlumency with Harry." Silas looked forward. It was like looking through a window, but it was dark. If Harry were awake, it would be clear and they could watch through his eyes what was happening in the Outside world. "What did I miss?"

Gabriel frowned again. He hated it when Silas changed the subject. But really, what more needed to be said? Obviously there was a risk involved in having the link they shared with Voldemort, but Silas was aware of that risk and was dealing with it. Maybe he should pay more attention to those Occlumency lessons too? He sighed again. At least the Slytherin was talking to him instead of keeping everything so damn secret. The lesson with Snape was worth something at least.

"Snape stepped up the physical training and started Neville and us on real dueling. Harry doesn't mind the exercises or the combat routines, but actually sparing, even though it's just practice, really bothers him. He just doesn't want to hurt anybody. Not even if it were to protect himself. Snape got mad and Harry got upset because he couldn't help the fact he isn't aggressive at all.

"So I went Out and it was agreed that I would take over during that part of the lesson." Here Gabriel grinned smugly. "I'm way more advanced than Neville and have loads more talent for combat so I'm getting intensive one-on-one training from Snape. Remus is going to come and partner with Neville so he's still learning too. He's not bad really. He's pretty good at defense, but like Harry, he's missing the edge needed to be really good at offense."

Silas nodded. "What time is it?"

"About ten thirty at night. Harry's been asleep for half-an-hour or so." Gabriel answered. "You've been asleep for just under thirteen hours. Why do you think it took so long? Do you think the visions aren't real-time? That you could have seen the past or future?"

"I think they are real-time." Silas tucked his chin-length hair behind his ear. "I think I slept after seeing the vision. I was tired."

"You hate sleeping." Gabriel smiled fondly.

Silas shot him an irritated glare. "I'm going Out to practice Occlumency." His door slammed outward and he was gone. Gabriel yawned and went to his bed, chuckling under his breath.

xXxXxXx

Silas had only been practicing for about an hour when a tapping sounded at his window. A slow smile spread across his face and he checked to make sure Gabriel was asleep before rising and opening the glass. Malfoy's bird flew in silently and offered its leg. Silas checked for spells, found none, and took the letter. The bird flew away without so much as a hoot and disappeared into the night. Silas sat at the desk and quickly counted the days. It had been thirteen days since he had sent off the letter describing the events of first year. He thought over the implications of that for a moment before reading the missive.

Compliments Shadow,

You have a way with naming things. Naming yourself Shadow in your last letter to me surprised me. I am surprised that you would welcome a name that holds even a hint of darkness. I realize you aren't how you portray yourself as being in school, but I hardly believe there's any darkness in you whatsoever. You are still Gryffindor and the Boy-Who-Lived at that.

In any case, naming things isn't your only talent. You are also a great story-teller. Not that I doubt your words, but you cannot deny your life is very entertaining. I can't wait to read the adventures of Second Year. But before that, I do have a story of my own and I thought I'd share it with you in payment for the amusing hour your last letter gave me.

My father has been missing from home more and more often as the days pass. You may not know but he holds a very high position in the Ministry, sitting on several Committee Boards. Curious, I began paying more attention, wondering what exactly was taking so much of my father's time.

I expected it had something to do with foreign affairs due to the few remarks my father had made. Needless to say, when I found out his business was with the Hogwarts Governors I thought he was trying to get me off his trail. But just yesterday I had a fire-call from a friend in Germany. It seems my father wasn't misleading me at all. Something is happening that concerns Hogwarts and foreign affairs.

Of course with the World Cup taking place in just a few months, I thought perhaps Hogwarts was helping or participating in some manner and that was what was keeping my father. But just before I retired to write this letter, my father said something interesting. He remarked, "Why those fools chose the year England hosts the World Cup to start this damn Tournament is beyond me. And at Hogwarts no less! We'll never be ready in time."

There is only one tournament that involves schools in different countries. The Tri-Wizard Tournament. But it was banned a long time ago due to the severe injuries and deaths the participants suffered. I have no idea who got it reinstated, but there are several unhappy people in the Ministry.

Well, I hope this information is of some use to you, Shadow. It is an interesting puzzle. The timing of it is also very curious. My best regards and I hope to receive another fascinating story in your next letter.

Yours truly,

Serpentine

Silas tapped his mouth with the end of his quill. Draco's information was interesting indeed. A tournament at Hogwarts that involves several countries. Was this what the woman in his vision knew that pleased Voldemort so much? Did Professor Snape know about the tournament and if he did why didn't he say anything? Should Snape have said anything? Should he be mad he hasn't? Silas shook his head. He'd think about that later. He needed to decide what to include in his next letter to Draco and when he wanted to send it.

On one hand, he could make things even and wait a week to send it off. But that would mean having his bird coming every night at midnight to see if his response was ready and every night the bird came increased the chances of his correspondence with Draco could be discovered. On the other hand, he could send off a response tomorrow and let Draco bite his lip, wondering why he was replying so fast. That had a certain appeal and Silas decided that would be the best way to go, so he began crafting his letter.

He opened it with a demure agreement that the tournament did sound interesting and accepted the compliments on his chosen pen-name of Shadow. He gave his condolences that his father was not at home and working so hard and then began to describe the happenings of their Second Year. Again, he was careful not to hint about their condition, but otherwise told the story the way it really happened. He was surprised at how many pages it took.

At the end, he asked for more information, but left the topic he was inquiring about open for Draco's interpretation. He could learn a lot just by finding out what Draco thought the most pertinent subject to him was. Satisfied, Silas sealed the envelope and hid it until he could send it tomorrow night.

xXxXxXx

"You guys, I really don't think this is necessary." Neville muttered as they walked down the road toward the small Muggle town.

It was Saturday and, as promised, Harry and Remus were taking Neville out to get a new wardrobe in hopes the new look would give the insecure teen a confidence boost. Silas had sent his response off to Draco two days ago and had been rather quiet as he considered everything he had learned in the past week. Gabriel was focused on the moment, however, hoping to be able to get Harry (and the rest of them) new clothes as well.

"This will be fun." Harry assured his friend, wrapping his arms around Neville's as they walked. "It's nice to get out of the house. We've been cooped up for almost a month!"

Neville smiled at him and nodded. It was nice to be outside. Remus laughed and promised they wouldn't shop for too long. The last of Neville's tension drained away and he smiled happily as the town came into view. The day was really beautiful so there were a lot of people on the streets and the shops were crowded. Surprisingly that made Neville happy. He liked crowds because he could hide in them and because the sales people were too distracted to focus solely on him. Shopping wasn't anything how he thought it would be.

Harry and Remus made suggestions and gave their honest opinions, but let Neville pick out what he wanted. Unlike with his Grandmother, who had made all the selections and had Neville choose from among those. Remus and Harry even looked at things for themselves as well and Neville had a great time returning the favor by making his own suggestions.

Harry stood by a rack of woman's underwear, the only place in the store that was free of anyone else. Remus was by the changing rooms and Neville was trying on some dark jeans. Harry took a deep breath. His head was killing him, though he refused to let Remus or Neville know it. He was doing alright at Occlumency, but was far from perfecting the ability and the emotions of the crowd were fading in and out of his barriers.

Remus' deep care, contentment, and happiness came loud and clear as Neville stepped out of the dressing room. Harry smiled as he felt his friend's pleasure, embarrassment, and joy. He really was having a good time. All of them were. The emotions disappeared, leaving Harry feeling trapped in his own skin, but the alternative of being overwhelmed by the hundreds of people around him was not acceptable either. His headache got worse and he felt guilty. He really, really didn't want to ruin everyone's day.

"Harry? Are you alright?" Remus asked.

Harry looked up at him through sad, tired emerald eyes. "Yeah. I'm fine, Remus." He smiled and took his hand. "I just needed a break away from people. I'm better now."

"We can head back…" Remus offered with a frown.

"No." Harry quickly said and headed over to the pile of clothes he had collected. "I'm fine. Really. Do you think this shirt would look good on me?"

"Definitely, Harry." Neville said. He had caught the last few words as he was coming out of the dressing room.

"You look great, Nev!" Harry smiled broadly. The Gryffindor was wearing blue jeans that fit perfectly with black boots and a matching belt. His shirt was a white silk button-down that had blue flames twining subtly up the sleeves.

"I think I like it." Neville admitted with a shy blush.

"Definitely." Remus laughed.

"You should try this on, Remus." Harry laughed and held up a black shirt with a running wolf on the back.

xXxXxXx

Harry, Remus, and Neville sat at an outside table eating lunch. Remus and Neville were talking happily and Harry smiled at them. He was really happy the two were getting along so well and the hints of deeper emotions were encouraging. Neville needed someone to love him and Remus had so much love to give. They'd make a great team. He winced and brought up his drink to hide it a second before the sound of glass breaking.

Remus looked to the side and saw a girl glaring down at the young man she had been sitting with. Her glass lay shattered at their feet. Her angry words silenced the surrounding conversation and everyone watched as she stormed from the table. The young man's miserable expression told everyone all they needed to know and people turned back to their own conversations with sympathy or laughs.

The werewolf turned worried eyes to Harry and saw the young teen was pale and sweat beaded his forehead. He looked over at Neville and saw he was worried for their smaller companion as well. That decided him. He called for the check and they left quickly. Harry looked miserable and Neville tried to cheer him up.

"Don't feel bad, Harry." He insisted. "You did really well. Your empathy is really powerful and for you to have lasted as long as you did when you hadn't mastered Occlumency yet is really impressive. We were done shopping anyway. I don't think I can carry another bag."

"But we were having such a good time." Harry pouted.

"And we can still have a good time." Remus smiled reassuringly. "What do you say we put our things away and come back outside for a few games?"

"What kind of games?" Neville asked.

"It's really hot today. Why don't we have a water fight?"

"With water balloons?" Harry laughed, his upset falling behind him.

"Water balloons?" Neville frowned and Remus laughed.

"Maybe we could get Severus to play!" Harry added.

xXxXxXx

Harry wasn't able to get Severus to play, but they did have a lot of fun. They made water guns and balloons inside the house with magic so no one would be able to detect it and then went outside and started a water war. At first it was every man for himself, but teams quickly began to form and break apart. Neville and Harry went against Remus, only for Neville to later turn against Harry, who in turn teamed up with Remus against him. It was a lot of fun and Omi took lots of pictures of their play. Severus sneered at them when they came in for dinner, dripping wet.

"Ever hear of drying charms, Wolf?" He demanded, casting said charms at Harry.

"Thank you, Severus." Harry said sweetly as Remus dried himself and Neville.

"How did your shields hold in town?" He asked as dinner was served.

"They blocked most everything, but some emotions got through. I also got a headache and it got worse the longer we were there."

"You didn't tell me you were in pain." Remus scolded.

"The headache is due to maintaining incomplete shields. That will cease as soon as you successfully create a complete shield." Severus ignored the werewolf.

Remus shot glares at Harry and continued to eat. Neville looked worried, but he relaxed when Harry gave him a smile. He smiled back, reassured Harry was okay.

"Thank you for letting us go to town." Harry told the grumpy Head of Slytherin. "I really had a great time. Maybe you could take Nev and me next weekend. There's a great restaurant there."

Severus snorted, but didn't say one way or another. Harry smiled triumphantly, Neville hid his own smile, and Remus laughed out loud. Of course that had the Potions Master glaring at them and lecturing them about safety and intelligence, but the three ignored his sharp words and waited patiently for dessert.

xXxXxXx

The next week passed quickly. Harry and Neville worked hard on their studies to become Animagi. Neville was making progress with meditating and Harry was progressing with Occlumency. Therapy sessions were a bit rocky as Harry began to experience anger, but his music when they went outside was becoming richer, proving he was getting better. He really was starting to move past all that had happened to him. It helped that Harry had such a positive environment and people that would return his love. The stability was healing him.

Remus came once or twice, but was often busy with Sirius. Harry was glad to be told that after his and Neville's birthday the ex-convict was coming back to the house to stay during the rest of break. In part because Sirius was getting much better and wanted to see Harry and in part due to the fact that Severus had no choice but to let him come. He was going to Hogwarts soon to prepare for the next semester and needed someone to stay with Harry. Remus wasn't an option due to the full moon being that week.

It wasn't until Friday when something spectacular occurred. For twenty six days, without a break, Severus and Neville had spent an hour and a half to two hours sitting peacefully in the same room as the severely traumatized Boy. The alter slept while Inside so that was forty five and a half hours straight of non-violent human company or pain of any kind. And that was about to finally pay off.

Boy was hysterical for the first week. He was constantly rocking and hunching protectively around himself, crying and chanting pleas of mercy whenever one of them moved or spoke. That tapered off to where Boy's dull green eyes would watch them tearfully while they played chess, still rocking, but silent. He no longer startled at their voices or movements. He still flinched back and away when Severus approached to coax Harry back Out, but even that was lessening a bit. Tonight, Boy was about to make his first tentative gesture of trust and that would be the gateway to any possible healing he may receive.

Boy sat curled under the settee. Severus and Neville sat in their customary place in front of the fire, playing chess. Boy watched them for a little while and his eyes took in the rest of the room as his panic and fear fell back to an ignorable buzz at the back of his mind. The room looked warm and soft. There were few hard edges and most surfaces were covered with carpets, tapestries, and curtains.

Carefully, Boy reached and set his hand out from under the settee. The two people by the fire didn't notice. Eyes wide and unblinking to catch any sudden movement in the room, Boy placed his second hand by the first. Still no reaction, but he waited several minutes just to be sure. His eyes landed on the clear glass of juice and small plate of cookies on the coffee table in front of him. He crawled a few inches forward and froze. He glanced at the couple by the fire and still they ignored him. The dark-eyed man said something to the teen and the boy smiled as he moved another piece. Encouraged, Boy crawled out from under the settee and crouched down, shivering and waiting for the blows.

Severus watched all this from behind his shielding hair. His heart was beating fast. He hadn't said anything to Longbottom, but he was beginning to believe that the damage done to Boy was too extensive to heal. There was just too much trauma to try and overcome and Boy was not strong enough to face it. Until tonight, he saw little to give him hope. He softly ordered Neville not to move and the Gryffindor obeyed.

Boy huddled by the settee for a good twenty minutes. He was too afraid to move; absolutely certain he would be punished for being bad any second. But he wasn't. The people were ignoring him and he still wanted the juice and cookies. Trembling and beginning to cry silently, he shuffled toward the coffee table. It was too much. He was in the open and he was going to be hurt. It always hurt so very much! He curled up under the table and began to cry loudly, whispering promises that he'd be good.

Severus sighed and put Longbottom in check. So much for that progress, but Boy had at least come out from under the settee. That had to be progress, right? He discreetly looked over at the crying child under the table. Boy was terrified. He sighed again. He couldn't really see progress in that. Longbottom caught his eye and gave him a reassuring smile. Damn that optimistic brat! This wasn't a game of patience. There was a serious possibility that Boy couldn't be rehabilitated and in turn could never be reabsorbed by Harry without risking the chance of permanent insanity.

Then from the corner of his eye he saw a small hand dart out and grab a cookie before retreating back under the table. It was then he realized the crying had stopped. Longbottom beamed at him a bright smile of triumph. Severus snorted and placed the teen in check mate, but he couldn't stop the small smile that slowly brushed across his lips. Yes. Maybe Gryffindor optimism was contagious.

xXxXxXx

"So I'm getting better?" Harry asked as he crawled out from under the table later that night. As soon as he had returned, he had felt Neville's joy and Severus' relief.

"Hardly." Severus sneered and continued when Neville opened his mouth to speak. "But! … But there was finally some progress made. Boy demonstrated great courage and asserted himself."

"He ate the cookies!" Neville said in a happy rush, his face bright red.

Harry laughed and hugged him. Neville hugged him back tightly. Severus watched them for a minute before shaking his head and walking away. He called back, "Get some sleep. We leave for town first thing in the morning." He grinned when he heard the two teens cheer.

xXxXxXx

Silas opened his eyes when the tapping reached his ears. He quickly got up and went to the window. Malfoy's bird flew regally in and perched on the back of his chair. Silas checked the letter over and took it. The bird hooted and nipped at his fingers before flying away. Silas shook his head in bemusement before setting in the chair to read the letter.

Dear Shadow,

I can't believe you took on and killed a Basilisk. That really is incredible. Do you know how rare Basilisks are? You would be richly compensated for the efforts of retrieving just a few of the Basilisk's parts. I hardly see how last year can top that, but I have a feeling it did.

But enough of that, I have news for you. Bertha Jorkins, who worked for the Department of Foreign Affairs at the Ministry, disappeared, but the Ministry is not too worried about looking for her. Seems the higher-ups are content with her staying missing. I have suspicions that she's dead because I heard rumors from a credible source that certain circles are becoming active once again and she stumbled onto one of their plots. Most people don't live to tell any tales after something like that. Supposedly, she's on vacation, but my father told me she was told to take a few days off due to her being distracted and agitated. Her behavior was the result of stepping on some plot and she was just collateral damage.

Yours truly,

Serpentine

Silas leaned back thoughtfully, eyes narrowed. Was it this Bertha Jorkins he had seen in his vision? What plot did she stumble over? He knew Draco was telling him the Death Eaters were moving, that was obvious, but was he saying that they were setting something up with the tournament? Why else would he add the bit about foreign affairs, which in his last letter related to the tournament being held at Hogwarts? Well, in any case, the blonde Slytherin had given him much to think about.

He was only paying his response half his attention since he had long ago decided how he would explain last year and this summer. His mind was whirling with the information he'd been given. He desperately wanted to know what the Death Eaters were up too, but he couldn't blatantly ask Draco. That would put him too much in the blonde's debt and power. No. He'd have to wait and hope Draco would let some more slip in future letters.

When he finished his reply, he sealed it up and hid it. He considered practicing Occlumency some more, but decided to go to sleep. Snape was taking them to town tomorrow and he wanted to be rested and ready for anything that might happen.

Chapter End

A/N: What do you guys think? Story still going good? I plan to have the boys' fourteenth birthday in the next chapter and maybe get to the World Cup. We'll see how it goes.