Chapter Three: The Breaking Point

Harry thought the day was going well. They all had for the past two weeks, seemed to be turning back into his favor. Sure, Dumbledore still wasn't speaking to him, Umbridge was still a ministry militant, and there were still Death Eater deniers everywhere he turned, but Harry found he was trying his best. Ron and Hermione were still kicking by his side and his scar was not as bad as it had been during his first week. Harry looked at the letter he had just written for Sirius laid out perfectly before him on his crinkled bed sheets. All he had to do was sign it before he sent it off and then…well Harry shrugged. He figured he could go to the basement kitchen and say hi to the house elves while they gave him some snacks to carry over until dinner. Harry dipped his quill in ink and with a steady hand wrote his signature, he made sure he placed the letter onto a notebook of course. When he was done he gently folded the parchment and sealed it, before turning to Hedwig. Hedwig looked at him with her bright yellow eyes and cooed. Harry smiled and opened her cage, as she shook her body to ruffle her feathers and calmly tottered to the opening.

"Here you go." He said as she cooed once more and flew out of her cage, rested herself carefully on his shoulder, and pecked playfully at his hair.

Harry made sure to pet her gently and scratched any spots that may have been itching under her feathers. Afterwards he climbed out of bed and to the window between his bed and Ron's. Quietly Harry opened the window and held the letter in an outstretched arm as Hedwig fluttered her wings, grabbed the parcel lightly with her talons, and flew out the window. Harry's smile stretched from ear to ear because the day was so prospectively good and Ron's snoring was making it all better. Harry decided he would have to get a separate pocket of goods for Ron when he woke up. On his way to the kitchen and out of their living quarters Harry turned around just as Dean and Seamus were coming in. He waved to Dean and ignored a mutually silent Seamus as he walked out, eager to the thought of warm cauldron cake feeling his belly.

Harry waved and said his hi's and hello's as he passed by others. When approached by Fred and George who both wanted hi-fives Harry just laughed at waved, cautious of the tricks they may have had literally up their sleeve. As Harry made it to the first floor he decided to take a shortcut. Outside was a small path that led to the back entrance of the kitchen that Harry and Ron usually took late at night to avoid Filch. Although it was nowhere near dark Harry thought it would nice to get a breath of fresh air and wildflowers. Harry made his way to the outdoors and trekked peacefully down the stone path. On his way, he saw the stone bench usually covered with lilies was occupied by Draco and his goons. Harry kept his head straight and refused to let his eyes wander on the bullies.

"What's got you so happy Potter?"

Harry continued walking until Draco quickly jogged in front of him with Crabbe and Goyle in toe.

"None of your concern Draco."

"Ah Potter I just want to have a little chat." He glanced at Crabbe and Goyle and as if on cue, they mimicked his smirk.

Harry sucked his teeth but tried to keep his smile alive. "What do you want Draco?"

"I just want to see how everyone's favorite wizard is doing." His sprouted, his tongue coated in sarcasm.

Harry rolled his eyes. "I'm fine."

"Tell me something Harry." Draco said with a raised eyebrow.

"Something."

"You think you're funny?" Draco hissed.

"Do you?"

Draco turned around, looking full of himself, and haughtily spat. "I think it's funny how everything thinks you're the savior of the wizarding world when you can't even save one student!"

Harry narrowed his eyes. "Back off Draco."

"Oh look the chosen one doesn't want be told the truth!" Draco laughed as Crabbe and Goyle followed, albeit looking uncomfortable in the process. "Well Potter you're just going to have to live with the fact that you let Cedric die and your mudblood mothe-"

Harry took out his wand and the word flew out before he could stop it.

"Crucio!"

Draco let out a bloodcurdling scream as he instantly hit the floor, his limbs flailed as he writhed in agony. The screams that spilled from Draco's lips made Harry flinch, but his grip remained steady on his wand.

"Stop it! Stop it!" Draco cried.

He needed to stop, the sickness that grew and stirred in his gut told him so, but Harry only felt his grip on his wand tighten and his feet stayed planted to the floor. As Draco's face became darker shades of red and his screaming perversed, Harry wished someone would stop him. Crabbe and Goyle were right there! Their wands out and ready, and yet they did nothing but stare at him and scream obscenities. Past the two of them he saw pointed heels peaking from the black of Professor McGonagall's robes. He heard her before he saw them.

"What is the meaning of this? What is going on?" She asked quickly.

As she came closer her steps became quicker and her expression more horrified.

"Potter!" She cried out as she took out her wand. "Expelliarmus!"

Harry felt the wand fly forcibly from his hands as Professor McGonagall came rushing to Draco's side. She placed a hand on his sweaty forehead and gasped.

"Potter what have you done?" She cried.

As if a cloud had been lifted, Harry's rageful expression contorted into one of worry. His hands shook at his sides as he fought not to break down in frustration. To his dismay, he saw Mrs. Norris and Filch wobbling to the scene, attracted to the noise. Along with them were other students who were now stopping to looking at the commotion, whispering as they watched intently.

"Come here you!" Filch hissed as he reached out to lock a grab on Harry's shirt. Harry instinctively stepped away.

"I can explain please!" He cried out in his defense.

"You're in for it now Potter! I can expulsion in your future! Heh heh heh come here!" Filch jeered.

Harry dodge him again. Quickly he took another step back only to feel a small object resting behind his foot. As he fell onto the floor, he could see Mrs. Norris purring as she scrambled from under his legs. Harry mentally cursed the cat as he began to scramble backwards and away from a gleeful Filch. Harry barely picked himself up just in time to completely bolt in the opposite direction. He pushed past though those in his way as he climbed the set of stairs he had just used a few moments before. People were screaming in either delight or fear as he whizzed by. As Harry made his way to the grand staircase he ran into the middle of a set and paused. Harry looked down and saw several of the stairs moving. Students clogged all except one, two levels below him, was a staircase that began to steadily move back into its original position after a student hurriedly walked off of it and to their destination. He could hear his professor's voices as they got closer.

"Harry! Someone please stop him!" He heard McGonagall order.

Harry looked down at the moving steps and bit his lip. Every sane cell in his body was screaming for him to turn around as he climbed onto the railing. Harry took one last hard look at the steps, closed his eyes, and jumped.

The impact came quicker than he anticipated and Harry let out a whisper of pain as his gut hit the railing before he doubled over and landed on the steps, finding it hard to breathe. Harry wished badly that Hermione was with him to find a more logical – and less painful, way out. Harry grabbed onto the rail and slowly he pulled himself up as he heard his name being screamed into the air. He had no idea if anyone saw him and cared even less if they had as he held his gut and limped down the steps. As he made his way through the small frame, before him was a pair of small brown stairs with no railing. There was a little pocket of space to the right of the stairs, some of its contents hidden from his view. In front of the stairs was nothing but a big tall stone wall. Harry carefully made his way down the stairs, his hope of hiding until things calmed down died as he made his way to the bottom. To the left of the stairs was nothing but more wall space leaving the way he came as his only entrance and escape.

"You've got to be kidding me!" He cursed as he ventured to the right and looked into the tall empty space.

Directly in front of him was a purely stone wall, another dead end, but to the side of him there was a tall black door. Several markings were carved in its side as gloss covered it in patches. The portions that didn't shine were dull and peeled in layers, revealing the brown of wood.

"Mr. Potter!"

Of course, someone just had to find me. Harry swallowed, and despite its dreadful looking décor, pointed his wand at the door, and calmly called out a spell.

"Alohomora."

To his dismay heard no clicking of a lock or saw the turning of the handle. Confused Harry shouted another.

"Liberare!" The door remained locked and unscathed.

"Cistem Aperio!"

"Bombarda!"

Harry covered his face as the blast of Bombarda hit the door. After a few seconds the smoke cleared as bits and pieces of the concrete that framed the door near the lock, scattered along the floor.

"Harry Potter!"

His heart dropped as the shrill and unnatural voice of Umbridge filled the vicinity.

"Blood hell!" Panicked, Harry slammed his body into the door repeatedly, ignoring the pain that spiked up his side.

"Come on you stupid door!"

Harry slammed his head into the door and sighed in defeat. He closed his eyes and began to steady his breathing. He had to ready himself for the pain Umbridge would bestow upon him the moment he was caught. He instinctively grabbed his bandaged wrist and tried to push away the thought of red and black bruises growing on his skin. He could imagine what he had to write:

I mustn't tell lies.

I mustn't harm others.

"Please." He whimpered in defeat. He could hear the clicking of heels on the floor above him and Umbridge's voice, clear and crisp as she talked at the group of professors that were already following him. Harry tried to blink away the tears spurred from his stress.

"I will do anything if you just open."

Harry felt a small prickling emerge beneath scar. With widened eyes, Harry grabbed for his chest to calm down his beating heart as flashes of the window and his first day of Umbridge's class rushed through his mind. He wasn't sure whatbut Harry knew it meant something, it always did, and the reason was always clear. Somehow, his scar wanted his attention, it wanted him to act. Quickly Harry turned the knob on the door and pushed. To his bewilderment and increasing concern the door gave way, leaving cool air to escape from behind it's frame and prickle the hairs on his arms. Harry didn't allow himself to think twice. Immediately he rushed inside the dark room, pushed the door shut, and allowed the darkness to engulf him.

Tom is coming (very very) soon in a theater near you.