Book 3: Something Wicked This Way Comes

God I am enjoying pottermore...cant get my spoon to stir though, I've tried it on two different computers...hmmm if anyone is wondering I'm of course a Slytherin *smirks* just thought I'd update this before trying on yet another computer to brew this bloody boiling cure potion...let me know if you all have suggestions!

Chapter 5

Of Sorrows Deep

Harry sighed softly as he took a moment to rest his head against the dusty tomb he was reading. Ten classes each day...his mind spun with the information that it was being saturated with every day. Yet he wouldn't have it any other way, especially if the alternative was dwelling on thoughts that were less than pleasant. He sighed and leaned back in his seat staring at the solitary candle as if it had all the answers in the world.

Severus wasn't the same recently, ever since that night…Harry felt his eyes slip closed.

Lily!

He cringed as the memory resurfaced unbidden. Severus' expression, the desperation and longing in his eyes- a part of Harry hated his mother for putting that look in Severus' eyes. More than anything, more than even his struggle to become stronger, he wanted to see Severus happy. Severus had given so much of himself for Harry's sake and Harry knew it.

But Severus was tormented by his mother.

What must it feel like, to see Harry every day and know that Harry was a product of Lily with another man, and now the cause of her destruction? How terrible it must be for the man to look at him nearly constantly and see what he could never have. Harry was sickened by it. The person he wished nothing more than to make happy was suffering simply because he existed.

Murderer

You destroy everything you touch.

"Studying hard Harry?" Dumbledore's voice broke through his thoughts and brought the present world crashing down around his ears as his eyes snapped open and his wand flew into his hand before he could think. Dumbledore was sitting across from him and had obviously been sitting there for quite some time studying him. Harry let out a slow breath and lowered his wand and noted belatedly that his candle was nearing its base. With a flick of his wand a newer brighter one replaced it.

"Yes, I must have dozed off for a moment." Harry said easily. Dumbledore nodded in acceptance though they both knew that he'd seen right through the lie.

"I must admit Harry, I came here intending to interrogate you about that intriguing circlet about your head however…I've changed my mind." Dumbledore said furrowing his eyebrows. "You see Harry I refused to see what Severus has been telling me all along. You are not your grandparents, nor are you your father or mother. I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't want to see it, you must understand that it is a hard thing to lose the ones you love…" He said wistfully. Harry eyed the man suspiciously.

"Headmaster?" He questioned cautiously. Blue eyes dimmed.

"I've seen eyes like yours Harry. They are the eyes that belong to the dead yet you are alive, as if all the sorrow in the world weighed on your shoulders and there is no one who can share that burden with you." Dumbledore looked away tiredly his eyes lost in memory.

"I don't need anyone to share my burdens sir." Harry said straitening defensively. Dumbledore turned to look at him and smiled sadly.

"Oh but I think you do Harry, we all do you see. No matter how much we would like to believe that we are infallible we are in fact quite the opposite, I am a direct result of that you see." Harry frowned and relaxed slightly.

"I understand why you did it headmaster." He said reluctantly. Blue eyes fixed on him.

"And yet it is not your forgiveness that I need is it Harry?" He said quietly. Harry narrowed his eyes.

"I will not be used in your quarrel with Severus!" He said sharply. Dumbledore's smile fell.

"I never asked you to be Harry." He said tiredly. Anger welled inside Harry.

"Then why do you torment him! You have no idea-!" He cut himself off gritting his teeth. No, he couldn't blame Dumbledore for this. It was his, Harry's fault that Severus suffered. He fell back into his seat and looked away. "I understand why you did what you did headmaster, but I will not stand back and watch you hurt Severus, whatever plans you have for me- and don't think that I don't see your scheming, I beg of you, don't involve Severus." He said firmly. Dumbledore watched him with curious eyes before looking away.

"It is good to see that you two have found each other Harry. Severus is a good man though he doesn't agree." He said smiling faintly.

"He is brilliant." Harry said fervently. "He is kind and loyal to those he holds dear." His voice trailed off as pain shot through him. Dumbledore nodded knowingly.

"And yet he suffers." He said sagely. Harry swallowed thickly.

"It is none of your concern headmaster." Harry said softly. Dumbledore eyed him for a moment.

"Oh but it is Harry." He said narrowing his eyes. "You see I view Severus as a son of sorts, and he is in pain- a blind man could see that." He said sharply. Harry looked away. "Why Harry? What hurts him?" Dumbledore demanded leaning forward. Harry's breath caught in his throat.

"If Severus wants you to know he will tell you himself." Harry said crossing his arms over his chest defensively. Dumbledore's fist crashed against the table with surprising violence and Harry jerked at the fire he saw written in blue eyes.

"Harry whatever it is it's destroying him!" He said furiously. Harry felt himself choke.

You destroy everything you touch.

His eyes fell closed.

"Harry." Dumbledore said forcefully.

"That will be enough, headmaster." A cool voice said from the shadows. Harry frowned as Remus Lupin stepped forward his eyes unnaturally bright in the growing moonlight. The moon smiled in satisfaction her cool protectiveness reaching through him and touching Remus gently. Remus inhaled sharply and Harry sighed.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about Remus." Dumbledore said his expression neutral. Remus narrowed his eyes slightly.

"I think you do headmaster, and yet your disrespect is great enough that she calls to one so low as myself to fix it." He said glancing out the window towards the moon who gazed at them strongly. Dumbledore's face fell slightly.

"Oh dear, I suppose it wouldn't do to anger her." He said tilting his head forward in a mock bow towards Harry who sneered slightly as the moon took offence.

"Careful headmaster." Harry said softly. "You don't know what you're dealing with." Harry said coolly. The headmaster's gaze hardened slightly.

"No Harry, I'm afraid it is you that doesn't know what you're dealing with. You are messing with magic that is fickle and prone to betrayal. I fear that you are not the child I assumed you to be." He said his gaze hardening. Harry frowned.

"What do you mean?" He said cautiously. Dumbledore clenched his jaw.

"I was a fool not to have seen it before Harry- your aunt, your uncle, the man who raped you, all dead." Harry felt a thrill of fear race down his spine.

"Are you calling me a murderer headmaster?" Harry said coolly. Dumbledore stood slowly his eyes darkening.

"How else do you explain the circlet on your head Harry? Do not think that I don't know how such a claim as that comes to be." Harry's breath caught in his throat as flashes of memory resurfaced blood tainting them.

"I haven't the slightest clue what you're insinuating headmaster." He said coldly. Dumbledore stepped forward his eyes narrowed and Remus let out a low snarl stepping between them.

"Remus…" Dumbledore said in shock. Remus hunched his shoulders and Harry felt a shiver of the moons magic rise in the air.

"You'll not touch my pup!" he growled his voice more animal than human.

"Harry!" Harry whipped his head around just in time to see Severus striding towards them, his dark gaze wary as it watched Remus. Harry felt his heart constrict.

"Ah yes Severus, perhaps you can clear this up-" Harry felt his power rise inside of him like a tidal wave a sensual mixture of the three magics that lived in him. The air around him shivered with power and his eyes glowed eerily in the dark. When he spoke his voice bore the same inhuman quality that had struck fear into the Dementors.

"You will not torment Severus!" Harry warned darkly. But he was foolish in his rashness. Dumbledore lifted his chin in satisfaction.

"Harry?" He turned slowly hoping beyond hope that- but no, Severus stood there eyes wide mouth slack trembling in fear. Severus…He took a step forward and Severus let out a shout stumbling back in terror-

Harry…!

Severus turned and ran terrified of him.

You destroy everything you touch.

Harry! Damn it Harry!

Murderer.

"HARRY!"

His eyes snapped open darting around the room in terror until they landed on Draco who was eyeing him in horror.

"Harry?" He said cautiously reaching forward and prying his hands away from his face. Harry shivered as the sting registered in his mind and his hands came away covered in blood.

"Draco what is it?" Severus' voice rang through the silence as Harry stared at his fingers blankly.

"A dream." Harry whispered softly his entire body beginning to tremble. "A nightmare…not real…not real…" He muttered as tears streamed down his cheeks. Early morning light filtered through the library's windows and the wick on his candle was cold. Dumbledore was no where around-

"Oh Harry…" Severus whispered sadly as he reached out and grasped his trembling hands. Harry flinched away.

No…

He destroyed everything he touched.

He was the reason Severus suffered.

The tears caught him off guard, and the breathless sobs seemed to choke him from within.