IV
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Harder and harder and harder. Faster and faster and faster. Harry screamed as he fell through what was now a black abyss, red flashes of light going to and from anywhere they could. A hazy mist overshadowed him, and he was almost positive that his glasses were indeed gone. His hands were flailing, trying to grab onto something that wasn't there though just couldn't, just couldn't, too hard, too far--He gasped for breath. It was as if the force of the throw, whatever it was, was now dragging him downwards into that… Was it a spiral? Green lights started to form as well. Rather, they were shooting at him. Oh, God, the screaming, the screaming was starting again; Harry covered his ears quickly. It still got louder, louder and louder and louder until he just couldn't take it anymore, but then he landed. He landed on a black floor, nothingness all around him. He tried to speak. Nothing. His only squeak came from that of the beginning of a scream. It felt like agony, like the bones had been sucked from his body, most positively broken.
But then he felt arms. Protective arms from nowhere picking him up, and he couldn't see very well. The figure was blurry, and it was dark everywhere but on their bodies. Harry attempted to turn his head, but it hurt too much. His head was bursting in two, by scar, it seemed. He tried to grasp his head, to try to comfort it, but his arm felt broken. Upon the tightening of the person's hold did Harry figure out that it indeed was a man, and he felt scared. For one of the first times in his life past the Dursley's home, he felt scared, he was frightened, he was terrified. "W-Who are you?" he squeaked. A gentle hand caressed Harry's cheek. He tried to pull away, but it was so comforting, oh so comforting. Grudgingly, he relaxed into it, unable to do anything else. But when the face came closer, just close enough to kiss, he realized who it was, it was---
He woke up, promptly screaming.
Right in the last few minutes of his Transfiguration class, Harry Potter was flailing in his seat, rather falling out of it, screaming and holding his head, at least for a few moments. A few of the students gaped, unable to move, while he suffered. "Snape," he screamed, over and over again. McGonagall ushered everyone out, and it honestly didn't take but five minutes before Madam Pomfrey and a few of the other professors got a hold of him. He flinched away, violently fighting before she got him into a stretcher. Severus got there, last of course, mouth dropping in slight disgust yet amazement. Murmurs were now ringing through the hallway, every one of them questioning what had happened, and why Snape was involved.
"Betcha he's crazy," came one of the more formidable Slytherin girls. "Always knew that Potter was going to snap."
"No, no; Maybe he's got a thing for the professor, and is going crazy in love."
"No, no! I know what happened, listen to me! Maybe he was having a nightmare, and he was in it, and it involv---"
"Ms. Abbott, that would be enough, thank you," Severus snapped, promptly shutting them up besides hushed whispers. "Twenty five points from Hufflepuff. Back to your dormitories or classes, all of you!" by the coldness of his voice, not a soul dared to disobey. The sound of scuffling feet ran rampant as those kids, to be vulgar, got their asses back where they belonged. He turned to McGonagall, eyebrow twitching lightly. "I have not an idea of what you are to think right now, Minerva, though I will say do not get ideas." Before the stunned woman could reply, Snape was down the hall, robes billowing angrily behind him. He was, of course, going to the hospital wing to find out exactly what the hell was going on.
Harry lay flat in one of the beds, staring mindlessly at the ceiling for what it was worth. The thoughts of 'what the hell just happened to me' and 'what am I going to say to my friends' were ringing forth, though the all-time favorite 'why was Snape about to fucking kiss me' seemed to run the most common. He turned over, laying on his stomach, head buried in his pillow. His head no longer hurt, but he did feel rather stringy. The doors opened, nearly slamming against the wall and promptly breaking them. Harry jumped, violently, of course, and nearly fell out of his bed before grabbing onto his sheets, pulling himself forward with a groan. Severus came forward moments later, black sleeved hand resting heavily on the bedstand. "You," he hissed, glaring down at the supposedly 'sleeping' boy, "What are you doing to me? Why are you in my damn mind?" Harry didn't know whether to scream or answer him sickeningly politely, so, he promptly chose the latter of the two.
"That's a question I can't answer, professor, if you don't tell me why you're screwing up mine," Harry retorted, the word 'professor' coming out like a sick, dirty word. "I don't… I don't like this any more than you do, trust me. Do you think I really want you to kiss me? Or hold me like a damsel in distress? No thank you, sir." Again with the sick words, recognizing 'sir'.
"Potter," he seethed, leaning quite dangerously close as the boy turned over to look at him, "I assure you that it isn't my doing, because I do know that I would have better fucking taste than a little scrawny boy like you, and---"
"Excuse me, Severus," came an interrupting voice, that of Madam Pomfrey's, "But he does need his rest. Kindly leave." He scowled, widely glaring down at Harry before he turned, black hair nearly making the same motion as his robes. However, as he reached the doors, he was promptly greeted by Hermione.
"Harry, Harry! I think I know why you're hav---Oh. Er, hello, professor."
"Out of my way," he hissed, pushing the girl aside. He disappeared into the hallway as Hermione came in, thoroughly stunned.
Harry had never felt more embarrassed in his life than he had at that moment.
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Sixteen reviews, one thousand hits, two c2s, three favorites and eighteen watchers.
I'm a lucky author, yes indeedy!
Oh, yes.
Now that I have enough people, every fiftieth reviewer wins a chapter. Hear me? Yes you do!
Thank you guys SO much for encouraging me to continue this---I wasn't sure I'd make it past the second chapter, but here I am.
Oh, and every eighteen reviews I'm going to have a reply dump. So, if you've reviewed recently, read this to see if you're on it.
-beware, long review replies ahead-
Kamori: Thanks! I've never been told that before, at least about the detail. I think I'm getting a lot better… -lol first reviewer.-
Whitehound: Thanks. I do think, however, that it's rather in-character, because to me she seems like the type of woman that at five in the morning would get rather pissed off at the comings and goings of students at five in the morning, but again, that's just me. As it is, it's going to be the connection for a while, though I haven't fully decided if I'm going to move it on to that point as of yet. Depends on what you lot think, really.
Enemywithin7: Oh snap, I have a believer. Keep on, because I've got some great ideas coming through. Thanks for the good review!
Yaoi-fied: Thanks for the reviews… All three of them. I was like, 'I have a returner! -sets out food-'. You're one of those inspirational people for me, just caring enough to post a review. I like you lots.
Mywayornoway: Thanks. I think it did come off to a nice start, honestly--I like how it's turning out.
Suiteki: Whoohoo! Don't worry, there's going to be loads more. A chapter a day, if I can handle it.
OK: Thanks for the nice comment. Lil' Jon! Ohkay.
Danger-Sly-Understanding: -…updates when no one's looking.- Thanks for the comment, and don't worry, I will.
Animegurl088: Thanks for the comment. I didn't think it'd get this far, but what do you know? Here we are.
Lizzy: They are? Wow. Thanks! That just makes my afternoon a lot better. To me, Harry seems a bit like his older self, but… Yeah. Thanks!
GalynSolo: My idea? Interesting? Have a cookie, my friend, for being interested. I'll keep writing, don't you worry, and the luck is needed. -drinks felix felicis-
Unjustbecky: So many people like it… My friends didn't really like it all. Don't worry, I'll keep them coming!
FREAKY CHICK: Woooow at the caps. I know it's weird---I got it when I was listening to a song called 'Heroes Symphony'… Strange. Anyways, thanks for the comments, and you'll find out what the dreams mean in the next chapter.
Alexander Black: Ah, ah, ah! Sorry, love, but I can't tell you that yet! Thanks for the comment. Just remember, it's not completely innocent, and… I don't know that as of yet. I put the rating on 'mature' just to be safe, though I'm not sure if I'm to take it to another level. I'm thinking about it, though. Agh, Snape'd be disgusted. Haha, fun times. Don't worry, I'm going to update soon---tomorrow, of course.