Harry shot him a nasty look again. He truly felt sick, but had endured much worse. Once he could put one foot in front of the other, he followed Snape, who was already storming towards the castle Harry had left merely a week ago, thought it felt so much longer.

After about five minutes, Harry could feel his body getting heavier. The hill was getting steeper, his tiredness was catching up with him, and Harry wasn't exactly the most healthy person. His bruises and scars weren't helping, either.

He pushed his thoughts away and admired the huge castle. He couldn't help but smile, knowing he was heading home.

Harry wondered why he was here in the first place. He had figured out that it had to be Dumbledore who was behind it, seeing that nobody else would convince Snape to "pick Harry up at his house". Except Voldemort, off course. A flash of Voldemort rising from that cauldron popped into his head. He shook his head, and tried to think of something else.

He wondered why Dumbledore had made him come. Had something happened with Voldemort? Harry abruptly stopped in his trail. What if someone had been hurt? Or worse, killed, as Harry originally suspected? What if Snape didn't want to be the one telling Harry, and therefore lied? His breath hitched as his thoughts immediately went to Hermione and Ron, and the rest of the Wealeys, and Sirius, and Remus and-

"What? Is the big popular Gryffindor seeker tired of walking up the hill? Is he not used to this kind of training, where he actually has to do something, and not just let sheer dumb luck and fame help him through it?" Snape barked as he saw that Harry was falling behind. Harry, himself, was about to retort, but then a grin spread on his face, and he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Snape loved to make Harry feel miserable. If someone had died, he would never give up on the opportunity to tell Harry the news himself.

Snape's brows furrowed. He had just insulted the prat, and now he was smiling.

"Is your IQ too low to comprehend my comments?" Snape asked, again trying to wake up the short-tempered prat which was hiding behind this idiot boy who was smiling for no reason.

"No, sir" Harry answered shortly. Snape frowned. Why was the Potter boy saying sir? Where was the brat-who-lived-to-make-his-life-miserable's anger and rudeness? Maybe he's trying to hide something, and thinks he's being smart by being all polite and innocent?

"Then why are you smiling?" Snape asked suspiciously. Harry shrugged, which only irritated Snape more. "Have your idiocy damaged your ability to speak?" Harry snorted at this. Snape was about to start ranting again, when Harry said:

"I find your sarcastic comebacks funny, sir, despite how insulting they are"

Harry's comment seemed to take Snape by surprise, because he was merely staring at Harry. Harry had caught up with the bat, and walked past him as the man stared at him. He was feeling quite happy with himself. He had never made his potion professor speechless before.

He could hear his professor catching up with him again. For the umpteenth time, he wondered why Dumbledore had chosen Snape to pick Harry up. Voldemort was back, and it wouldn't look good if somebody saw Snape with Harry outside of school.

Harry looked up at the castle. His breath became steam in the cold air, and he was starting to shiver. Luckily they were almost there. They walked past Hagrid's hut. Harry looked at it, trying to detect signs that Hagrid was in there, but the lights were off, and the only noise hearable was his own and Snape's footsteps.

Then, they walked past the Womping Willow, which looked as innocent as any other tree, but which both Harry and Snape knew wasn't. A flash of Harry asking Lupin and Sirius not to kill Wormtail popped into Harry's head, and then another one of Wormtail escaping into the forest. If he had only killed him that night, then Voldemort might not have returned. If Harry hadn't been such a Golden Boy, then Cedric might still been alive. Harry shook his head, trying to clear it. It didn't help, thinking like that.

They were now by the entrance, and Harry couldn't help but smile. He tried to keep his hopes down. For all he knew, he would be back at the Dursleys in an hour or two, but for now, he enjoyed the rare, but still familiar feeling of being where he belonged.

The walk to Dumbledore's office seemed to take even longer than it used to, considering the tension in the air, but Harry didn't mind that much. Snape was ignoring Harry as much as Harry was ignoring Snape. That way Harry could enjoy the beauty of the castle and soak in the wonderful feeling of being back. Like I said, Harry had only been away a week, but it had felt so much longer. He actually preferred this awkward walk with Snape to the company of the Dursleys.

The Dursleys had been even more intolerable than before, because Harry kept waking them up when he was screaming during his nightmares. Dark rings had taken their mark under Harry's eyes. His cheeks were more hollow than ever, and he had actually lost some pounds this week, caused by the lack of food and the hard garden work. His body was more scrawny than ever, and his ribcage was really starting to show, but luckily it was hidden underneath his baggy t- shirt, or more specifically Dudley's baggy t-shirt.

Paintings were curiously watching as Harry and Snape were walking down the halls. It wasn't often a student was at Hogwarts during summer. He felt a bit embarrassed walking around in his pyjama t-shirt and sweatpants, which actually were just normal clothes, but these specific ones were so big that Harry couldn't use them for anything else.

They finally reached the big Gargoyle, which jumped aside once Snape said the password. Snape walked past Harry, and through the door, not bothering knocking. Harry just made it through the door before it closed itself. He was again in the circular room with delicate silver instruments that stood on spindle-legged tables, puffing smoke and whirring. Portraits of previous headmasters and headmistresses gave him curious looks, before continuing their own business.

Dumbledore stood up from his chair, and put down the bowl of lemon drops in his hand, while smiling, his eyes twinkling like crazy. Harry couldn't help but think that sometimes Dumbledore's eyes were brighter than Harry's future. Dumbledore's velvet robe with small stars was gracefully billowing behind him, and again Harry felt embarrassed for walking around in his huge "pyjamas".

"Harry, Severus, my dear boys", he said, smiling.

"Hello, Headmaster", Harry answered. Snape only made a sharp nod in recognition. Dumbledore gestured towards the chairs on the other side of his desk, while seating down himself. Harry sat down, but Snape didn't move an inch.

"I am sorry for disturbing you at such an hour, but you see, it was of the outmost importance that you were not seen. I expect that you did not have any trouble on your way?" he asked, now looking at Snape.

"No, headmaster", Snape said shortly. Dumbledore nodded satisfyingly.

"Wonderful. Thank you, Severus, your help has been most appreciated" said Dumbledore.

"Yet, you never grow tired of asking for it", Snape almost growled. Harry frowned, wondering where this sudden disrespect towards Dumbledore came from. Dumbledore ignored Snape's comment and turned his attention to Harry.

"As I was saying, I am sorry for disturbing you at such an hour."

"Oh, no it's okay", said Harry, reassuringly. "But just out of curiosity though, why didn't you send an owl to warn me you were coming?"

"Ah, well you see, Harry, that a wizard's or witch's private letters aren't as private anymore", he said, his voice light, but with an edge of slight disappointment. Harry's brows furrowed.

"What do you mean?"

"He means, Mr. Potter, that the Ministry has taken it upon themselves to inspect letters, especially those sent from or to wizards or witches such as yourself and the Headmaster", explained Snape quickly, but Harry still didn't understand.

"Why would they do that?"

"Can you really not guess?" retorted Snape instead.

"You mean, they do this because of Voldemort?" asked Harry. Snape flinched and seemed irritated, but both Dumbledore and Harry ignored him.

"Yes, the Ministry seems to think that by examining every letter that is sent, they'll be able to stop, what they consider is a lie and a cry for attention from you. They don't want to believe Voldemort's back", said Dumbledore, the light tone disappearing from his voice.

"What?" exclaimed Harry. "They don't believe he's back? You mean me seeing Voldemort, and not to mention fighting him isn't evidence enough to believe it? They think Cedric Diggory just dropped dead on his own?"

"Harry, you must understand. The last war is not something anyone wish to relive, and if there's a slight chance they don't have to, they'll take it", explained Dumbledore. Harry frowned.

"But that's obscured! Surely they must see reason, they can't just ignore Voldemort's return, just because they're scared! They can't-"

"-That's exactly what they can, and what they will."

"But by doing this they're just helping Voldemort regaining power!"

"I'm glad you see the problem"

"So, to sum it up, Voldemort's back, but nobody believes me and everyone thinks I'm just seeking attention", Harry said, feeling his anger flowing through his veins. Why did they always do this? Harry never gave anyone any reason not to trust him. Still, they always turned on him. Even in his second year, they thought he had opened the chamber and attacked all those people. Now they thought he was lying about Voldemort returning to get attention? As if he didn't get enough every time he walked down the hallway, with people pointing at him or whispering about him, or staring at his scar. He was sick of it. He was sick of everything always ending with him being in the spotlight, being pointed and laughed at, being humiliated and hurt. He risked everything to help others, and still they wouldn't trust him.

"Not everyone, Harry", said Dumbledore, watching with worry as the different emotions played on Harry's face. "Lemon drop?" he asked, gesturing towards the bowl on his desk. Harry shook his head politely.

"You never told me why I am here, Headmaster", Harry stated.

"No, I did not", Dumbledore murmured, still studying Harry. It was just now that he was really staring, that he noticed how ill and tired Harry looked. He looked so much older and serious than he actually was, and Dumbledore didn't like it one bit. He imagined the toll the last year had taken upon the boy, and all that responsibility. "That is a task for tomorrow. I believe the clock is-" he glanced down on his wristwatch, and frowned slightly "-oh, four in the morning. Sometimes it is worrisome, how fast time can slip away", Dumbledore finished, standing up. Harry did the same.

"So I am going to stay here? I am not going back to the Dursleys?" Harry asked, not able to keep the smile away. Dumbledore's heart clenched as he saw the happiness on Harry's face, making him look so much younger again.

"Yes, I daresay that if everything goes after the plan, you won't return until next summer", Dumbledore said, reassuring. Harry sighed with relief, silently thanking the Gods.

"Now, you are sadly not allowed to sleep in the Gryffindor commonroom just yet, but there is a room for you, all set in the dungeons. Professor Snape will show you the way"

"In the dungeons? Why-"

"Tomorrow, Harry", Dumbledore interrupted, smiling grandfatherly. Harry sighed, realizing he was not going to get any more information. "Good night, Severus, Harry", said Dumbledore.

"Good night, Headmaster", said Snape, storming out of the office. Harry was about to follow when he remembered something he had worried about on his way to the castle.

"Professor, may I ask you a question?" Harry asked. Dumbledore raised a brow.

"I believe you just did, but you may ask another one."

"I just need to know, with Voldemort back and all-", Harry started, fidgeting nervously. "-has anyone gotten hurt or anything?" Dumbledore studied Harry a bit before answering.

"There has been some terrible disappearances, but I promise you that none of your loved ones have been harmed", Dumbledore answered honestly. Harry was relieved, off course. But these disappearances. He had heard people talk of the last war. This was how it started, wasn't it? And what did the Ministry have to say about this? Did they just ignore it or-

"A good night's sleep can do wonders, Harry", said Dumbledore suddenly, interrupting Harry's thoughts as he saw the boy's internal struggle. He was watching Harry with those piercing blue eyes, and Harry had to fight the urge to look away.

"Good night, professor", Harry said, before turning around and walking out of the office.

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Review answers:

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