Author's Note: First, thank you for reading and reviewing. Second, I am pretty sure that I AM in love with Charlie. I get all the feels when I write anything between them – even though nothing has happened yet. However, in my mind, it is all planned out and it makes me giddy.

Will just tell you in advance that I love Snape as a character and especially when Harry and him can put aside their differences and work together.

Posted 9/6/15

Standard disclaimer about not owning anything; I am so thankful for JKR and all that she did for us. She gave us one of the greatest gifts, and so many people have taken to this site and played brilliantly with her creation. We should have a JKR day and it should be a global holiday!

Harry,

There is no need for you to thank me. I really am just glad that you read what I had to say and that my words helped in some way.

I thought that sharing my experience and pain with you was important considering that what we had both experienced was similar in some way and that I had a pretty good idea of what you might be feeling on this inside. I know the feeling of being isolated and how it can make the situation even worse.

I didn't want that for you and it makes me thankful that you have Ron and Hermione's support through this (Ron has really matured in my mind over the past few months). Just let them try to help; they don't need to understand exactly how you are feeling on the inside to be able to be there for you.

Ron gave me a summary of the events that happened when he contacted me. I have to say I was very worried when I heard of how withdrawn you had become – though I can't really fault you. I didn't visit home for a long time afterwards and my parents were forced to travel to Romania several times to check on me.

Anyways, you can never be sure of the things that will remind you the most of the other person. It still happens to me all of the time. One minute I will be doing great, and then the next, something random will happen that will make me think of him. I suppose I am telling you all of this because I don't want someone else to make the same mistakes that I did. I held onto my grief for much too long and only recently have I been really able to let go of a lot. I don't want your pain to consume you like mine did. What happened was a tragedy, but it doesn't – or shouldn't rather – prevent you getting on with your life.

I know that seems hard to do now, and disrespectful to Cedric, but I honestly believe Geoff would have been pissed if he knew how I wasted the last few years of my life. He wouldn't have wanted that, and I don't think Cedric would either. And I don't think you should blame yourself for what happened. It was a good thing that you even knew how to cast the Patronus Charm - which is pretty impressive Harry (not many adults can do that)!

Though, that feeling of wanting to blame yourself is normal and I completely understand. We were Dragon Tamers and we should have anticipated that the orphan Dragon would have sought out a new parental figure!

Some of your comments really made me think about how things do tend to happen to you. It is rather odd now that I think about it. Your life has been quite complicated so far, and I'm sure you just want to live a normal life. That has to make this so much harder now that I look at it from your perspective. It isn't fair that you should have to deal with this on top of everything else. Well, it isn't fair that you should have to deal with any of the things that you have gone through. I am sorry for that, Harry. I wish I could do something to share your burden.

I don't know why bad things happen; I wish they didn't. And I hope these don't break you. You have so much to give, Harry. Please, talk to me about them if you want to. I'm honored that you feel so comfortable talking to me about them. In truth, I suppose I feel the same.

I know that some of the things I have said are quite personal and frank, but they don't feel that way, at least, not to me. It is very easy to talk, or write rather, with you.

In regards to your sexuality, do you consider yourself gay or have you only been attracted to Cedric? It could be that you fell for the person and not what sex they were… I guess I don't know much more about it (and don't feel like you need to tell me if it makes you uncomfortable). Myself, I have only been attracted to guys.

In fact, how about we promise to write only things that we are comfortable with? I learned it in therapy (which I should have started earlier, and is something you may want to consider). I found it helpful to express things in stages and gradually work up to talking about the things that make you the most uncomfortable. That way, it'll make things easier if you want to keep writing and we won't have to worry about overstepping any bounds.

Because I do want to encourage you to talk to someone, and again I'm more than happy to do it, even if you find that you want to talk to someone different in the future.

I'm glad that I have been able to be of any help. Really. The future will get better; at least, we have to believe that sometimes, even when it seems like it won't.

~ Charlie.

Also, let me know if you have any questions about O.W.L.s. I'm sure you must be sick of all of the extra work by now. Hope you had a great Halloween at the school – the floating pumpkins were always my favorite!

Harry held the letter to his chest. It didn't matter that he had just finished rereading it for about the tenth time in the past few weeks; it just made things easier when he focused on the words that Charlie had written.

He didn't know why it made the tightness in his chest lighten or why he found the thought of tomorrow just a little brighter. Harry was just grateful that he had someone to talk to, and honestly, it really did help having someone who knew exactly how he was feeling. In Harry's case, knowing that Charlie had gotten through something similar really did give him hope.

He placed the letter under his pillow where he had starting putting it given how many times he actually read it. Sometimes he found that reading the letter was therapeutic and he didn't have to go down alone into the chamber as much.

But seeing as it was a Monday morning, he kicked off the covers and headed to the showers. Even though he had been sleeping better recently, he still tended to wake up early. Which was fine with him as he tended to use the empty common room to finish some of his extracurricular readings. He had become fascinated with magical theory and he was currently focusing on the fundamental difference between Charms and Transfiguration. It was pretty complicated, but he had finally gotten to that point where things were starting to come together.

At any rate, he thought that it would help him on the written portion of some of his exams. For instance, he had already learned that, for certain spells, the way the wand moved was integral to the success of the spell; however, in others, it hardly mattered. And know he knew the reasons for that!

Harry read until Hermione and Ron joined him and then the trio headed down to the Great Hall.

The day progressed as expected. Transfiguration involved a lot of practice using the switching spells that they had just begun learning. The three of them had been consistently among the first to successfully complete whatever they were working on and today proved to be no different. Of course, the class ended with even more work being assigned to them to complete over the course of the next week.

They were now two and a half months into the year and some students were already showing signs of stress at the amount of work they were under.

Although, not every class significantly added to their workload; for instance, they were only ever assigned readings for Defense – and they were not difficult to get through, provided you could stay awake through the mindless drivel of an author who didn't seem to know what he was talking about. The absence of adequate teaching in that class was causing worry of a different nature among the school because no one felt confident with the material. At least in the other classes they could say that they were learning something, even if they were drowning in homework.

So far, they had yet to witness Dumbridge in another professor's classroom, but that all changed as they headed towards the dungeon for their double block of potions on Monday afternoon.

Dolores was sitting in the back corner of the classroom with a large clipboard resting on her lap. She watched the fifth year Gryffindor and Slytherin students enter, her face passive except for the obvious excitement dancing in her eyes because of the negative reviews she was about to give Potions.

She knew that Severus was the most loathed professor in the whole school, aside from herself - which she wouldn't have believed even if it had been a front page headline in the Daily Prophet.

So Potions was an obvious place for her to begin to direct some of her more negative critiques, never mind that it was naturally one of the harder subjects with historically lower pass rates because of it. Some students just had trouble grasping the complex interactions of the ingredients no matter how much effort they put in.

Harry discretely rolled his eyes at her presence and got his mindscape ready, as it had become second nature for him whenever he was in the toad's presence. Hermione and Ron sat next to each other right in front of Harry and Neville, and the four of them each had a nervous look on their face as they wondered how a double session with Dolores and Severus would go.

Just then, Snape entered from his private potion's lab in the adjoining classroom. He ignored Umbridge's presence and immediately set the potion instructions on the board for the class to follow.

He had just finished using his wand to quickly scrawl the last line when a small sounded interrupted him.

"Hem, hem," came from the back.

The class as a whole held its breath, wondering how the most notorious professor would handle anyone dictating him in his own classroom.

Snape turned and kept his face expressionless aside from his right brow rising slightly.

It took Dolores a second to respond under his stare.

"I was just wondering if you got my note informing you that I would be here today, for this lesson, for my role as the Hogwarts High Inquisitor. I will be reviewing your performance – as well as those of the students - today." Her swelled face looked pleased at displaying her authority.

"Obviously," Snape responded dryly. "Or else I would not have allowed you to remain." His attention turned to the class.

The light dimmed a little in her eyes as she was displeased with the respect she had just been shown. However, a new spark ignited in her bulging orbs as she began to scribble furiously on her clipboard.

Snape instructed them to begin, and his eyes set on Harry for a brief moment and their eyes connected. Harry had the faintest trace of a smirk on his face but got up from his seat the moment that Snape had seen him and joined Neville in preparing their ingredients.

This year was unlike any other for the two of them. Not once had Harry been given a detention or had manage to visibly annoy the man. If anything, he was slowly winning his respect with each assignment that he turned in or potion that Neville and him had manage to brew perfectly. Of course, Snape had never given them an O – or had indicated how much he looked forward to Harry's insights when he received a thought-provoking and original take on the potion.

In fact, all of the animosity that had existed in the man towards Harry was almost completely gone.

And the reasons for that were very complex.

Snape had never hated Harry Potter; he had hated, loathed, James though. And he had never forgiven himself for his role in getting Lily killed. So it was easier for him to make the child hate him because he hated himself for what he had done to her.

However, with Voldemort back – he knew it was only a matter of time until Harry learned the truth about why his parents had died.

Snape sat at his desk, his face blank, and devoting a small portion of his mind to making sure no accidents happened by watching over the students.

But what was going on inside his mind was a completely different story. He was aware of what had been within Harry's scar: the ancient and horrific magic that had kept the Dark Lord alive.

He wasn't surprised at the boy's improvement in classes, as Harry's mind and magic no longer had a sliver of Voldemort to contend with. Harry's behavior and insights that he had into the nature and essence of magic reminded him of Lily so much.

But the thing that had caused him to be softer towards the boy, even if some of his Slytherins were aware that he longer assigned detentions to the Boy Who Lived, was the muted color of his eyes. They were no longer like Lily's – and he didn't like that at all. The boy looked so much like his father and nothing in his features reminded him of his dear friend, his first love, anymore.

He would have given anything to have them shine like the bright color of emerald green again, and he was encouraged that every week that went by they grew a little lighter and more of Lilly shown through.

Though, with that came a newfound respect for the boy and all he had been through and all that he would have to face in the future. Severus felt ashamed that he had ever acted that way to an undeserving child, and he couldn't do it anymore. Even if he felt he deserved Harry's hate.

His thoughts were interrupted by an intensely irritating noise.

"Hem, hem," the toad said, her bright pink robes touching the edge of his desk.

If Snape was being honest with himself, he didn't know whether it was harder to keep his cool in front of Voldemort or this horrible excuse of a witch. At least with Voldemort he knew he was no match for him; Umbitch, his own personal moniker for her, however was far beneath him.

"Yes?" he managed, having to employ high levels of Occlumency to keep his voice even.

Her cheeks flushed with color; she relished when she could exert her power over others.

"So sorry to disturb your active teaching," she sang in her sugary voice.

"I just wanted to know your thoughts on some of the students."

She blinked; her quill was hovering over her clipboard in anticipation.

"What do you want to know?" he said, sitting back in his chair and putting his fingertips together. Snape needed to keep his hands occupied or else he was sure he would have gone for his wand. He couldn't stand the woman, and had a few curses ready on his tongue.

Her eyes squinted slightly in delight as her cheeks somehow grew fuller.

"I want to know of any problem students – and make sure detentions are being appropriately given," she practically gushed. Her mouth had a slight upturn, reminding him of how the Dark Lord looked when he was about to cast the Cruciatus. 'Perhaps I should introduce them,' he thought sardonically.

He wondered where she was going with this, and made a mental note to think about it later.

"No more than the usual problems that occur when one attempts to combine potions with dunderheads," he said noncommittally, curious at her where she was trying to lead him.

"So sorry, but it would seem that you do have a problem with certain students in your class." Her toad-like eyes flashed with excitement and malice.

At this point during their conversation, Hermione, Ron, and Harry were stealing glances towards the front of the room and trying to follow along while concentrating on their potion. They had noticed a slight change in Professor Snape's behavior, though honestly weren't surprised; Dumbridge seemed to have that affect on people.

They couldn't hear anything but that didn't stop them from trying.

Snape raised his eyebrow in response to her cheek.

Dolores continued. "I have been going through your records." She paused for dramatic effect.

"And I would have to question why you paired your two worst students together." Her appearance struck him as a predator that was circling her prey.

Again, he wondered what her angle was and if this was perhaps the Dark Lord himself.

'What had Harry,' he thought who he know understood her target to be, 'done to bring on her wrath?'

"It would seem that Potter has been paired with Longbottom. Neville has the lowest grades in this glass and Potter has spent more time in detention than most in the school. Only a pair of seventh years has ever had more."

He was honestly confused as to why she was going after the boy, and found himself becoming quite defensive over Harry. Though, he wasn't in the position to do anything about it.

"That may be," he said quietly, "however, I think you will find them both performing satisfactory this year. In fact, neither has warranted a detention."

"And why might that be?" she asked. Some of the luster was beginning to fade from her eyes as she furiously thought of a way to get what she wanted.

He hesitated for the briefest of moments, giving himself that air of being honest without telling the whole truth. It was a skill that he had perfected over the years, especially before the Dark Lord.

"It would seem that the upcoming Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations have brought out the best in the pair. It happens sometimes." He emphasized to the toad.

"Hmmm, I don't know about that. Is that why you have marked them consistently at," she rummaged through her notes, "A's?"

Snape was employing all of the skills that he possessed. For some reason, she got under his skin more than James Potter had; he couldn't afford to lose his cool in front of her.

"Their grades have improved," he emphasized again.

Suddenly, an explosion rocketed the classroom and Neville was forced backwards, slamming into the desk behind him and becoming unconscious.

Snape jumped out of his chair and had his wand in his hand, conjuring protective bubbles around the other students.

"Silence," he called, quieting the uneasiness that had followed.

"Granger," he beckoned, "you and Weasley take him to the infirmary at once."

He flicked his wand and Neville's body straightened and then rose to float in the air.

"A simple guiding spell should suffice."

Hermione looked torn; she would not only be leaving her and Ron's potion behind, but she would be leaving Harry alone as well.

However, she had little choice and unsheathed her wand to guide Neville to Madam Pomfrey. Both her and Ron managed to catch Harry's eye before they departed and passed along a comforting grimace that they hoped would be taken as, 'hang in there.'

Harry just looked confused. He had no idea what had suddenly gone wrong with their potion.

When Hermione and Ron had left with Neville in tow, Umbridge turned to Snape.

Her face practically screamed, 'I told you so.'

"Well, it would seem that some things never change." Her voice was as sweet as he had ever heard it.

"Now, unless I am mistaken – which I hardly ever am – I think a series of detentions are in order for hurting a fellow classmate in class."

She looked at Snape expectantly.

Snape was livid. There was no doubt in his mind that the explosion had happened because of Umbridge; however, he had no proof and his hands were tied. There were rules that dictated detentions, and, in this case, they couldn't be skirted. He couldn't manufacture ways to get Harry out of detention.

The irony wasn't lost on him: for all of the times that he had stretched the rules to give the boy a detention, he was simply powerless in this moment to prevent one.

"Potter," he called out in a tone that he reserved for the most dunder of dunderheads.

It pained him to do so, and he forced himself to glare at the boy.

"Detention for a week for endangering the life of your fellow classmates!"

Harry's face fell; he was disappointed in himself and had no idea of what had happened and all of his thoughts were hoping that Neville was okay.

Lost in all of this was the triumphant gleam that showed in two round and bulging eyes. She had finally succeeded in getting Potter called out for the hellion that she knew him to be – even if she had needed to lend a helping hand.

The class slowly resumed as the other students tended to what would be their graded assignments for the day.

Harry, however, remained at his desk and laid his head in his soot-covered hands for the remainder of the period.

Umbridge was the first to leave and the rest of the class trickled out slowly when the bell sounded.

Just as Harry was about to walk through the door, Snape called to him.

"Potter, a word? We need to go over the terms of your punishment," he announced in case others were listening in. Part of the reason that he was so hard on the boy was because of all of the Slytherins that were around. He had been privy to Albus' council, and knew that he would have to act a certain way around some of the students. Just because he hadn't been mean to Potter this year didn't mean that he hadn't been nice.

Harry looked at him, resigned to whatever was about to happen. He had been foolish to get comfortable with how pleasant potions had been going so far this year.

However, the moment the last student departed there was a quick swish of Snape's wand and the door closed, leaving them alone.

"Harry, what happened?" his voice was as soft as Harry had ever heard it, causing him to take a slight double-take.

"I don't know, Sir. Nothing should have caused an explosion like that at the stage we were at in the potion. I know that most of the ingredients are rather volatile, but not at the point that we were at."

Harry looked genuinely confused and kept running through everything he knew about the potion in his mind; it scared him to think that there was something that he was missing that had put Neville's in harm way.

Snape moved towards him ever so slightly.

"You did nothing wrong," he spoke suddenly.

Harry immediately got a thoughtful look on his face.

"For some reason, which I have yet to discover, I think that Professor Umbridge," – it hurt him to say that out loud – "seems to have it out for you."

Recognition flashed through Harry's eyes.

"So you have noticed it," Snape commented.

Both of their minds were busy with thought.

"I would caution you to be extremely wary around her."

Harry was a bit taken aback. 'Did Snape just do something nice for me?'

"Can you think of anything that would explain her reaction to you? Did something happen that would explain this?"

Harry shook his head – he could barely think about what he had done to make Snape seem so nice. For that matter, what had he ever done to Snape to earn his ire in the first place?

It gave Snape a lot to think about.

"My detention?" Harry freed him from his thoughts.

"I have to give it to you – but not because I want to."

Again, Harry was thoroughly confused at Snape's apparent about-face.

"Consider it an extra study period for yourself here after dinner."

Harry nodded, wanting to get to the hospital wing and check on Neville before informing Ron and Hermione about how strange Snape was acting.

Harry nodded and moved towards the door, but stopped just as he was about to pull on the handle.

An idea suddenly popped into his mind and he quickly thought that now was as good a time as any with how Snape was behaving. It almost made him think that someone was polyjuicing him.

He turned around, noting the raised eyebrow of his professor at his bold action.

"Yes?" he asked.

"You asked what I had ever done to Dumbr… I mean Professor Umbridge."

He quickly continued despite his flub.

"It got me thinking: what did I ever do to you?" he put forth bravely.

Let me know what you think!