Disclaimer: *sigh* this again? Repeat after me "The author of this fic does not own Harry Potter characters or any songs she may use." Good?

Once again to my wonderful reviewers:

Mrscakeakajane-Thank you! It's good to know that you are enjoying the fic. Yes Harry is kinda fucked up right now. He's kinda dark and demented inside. But don't worry, he's got help ;P

Chapter Five: How Could We Be So Wrong?

Outside of Harry's mind:

"Albus, do you really believe that that was a good idea? We all know that Severus and Harry hate each other; they only tell us every year. Letting him have free reign in a fifteen year old boys mind…Albus! Are you even listening?!"Madam Pomfrey all but screeched at the end.

"Hmm?...yes, yes Poppy I'm listening. You know Severus wouldn't knowingly injure Harry." Albus' mind was obviously elsewhere; his entire demeanor telling anyone who looked that he was only half paying attention. It seemed he just couldn't come to terms that he put the Savior of the Wizarding World in mortal danger.

As Albus continued his musings, Poppy cast a few diagnostic charms Harry's way. They were telling her she's missing something, but damn it if she could uncover it. She was terribly worried about the boy. He was so scrawny, and all the scars littering his body. She couldn't even imagine what he'd been through.

Just as Poppy cast another diagnostic charm at Harry, this one twice as strong as any she cast before as it was fueled by her anger towards Albus, Severus fell back into his own body. And Harry fell back onto his bed, unconscious after having his mind practically torn apart.

"Good God!! They..he..he was only…I don't believe it…" Severus shuddered. He couldn't grasp the emotions that were rolling through him. With a start he realized that part of them weren't his. The monitoring charm. In an instant he cancelled the charm and still he couldn't sort through the emotions bombarding him.

"Severus," Dumbledore said in a soothing way, "Severus what happened? What's wrong?"

"Albus, they..his uncle..Merlin…" Severus practically growled at himself, he couldn't even get a sentence out! He'd seen things such as this before, he'd been a Death Eater for Merlin's sake!

"Just start from the beginning Severus."

"Right, I got into his mind—expecting it to be terribly messy—but instead came upon a white room with multiple doors. Of course each one meant something to Potter and all I had to do was figure out which one was hiding the information I needed. I was right Albus, he was keeping something to himself, only I wish I hadn't seen it." In that moment Albus was deeply distressed, for Severus—a man who did things that would make Moody cringe for a cause he didn't believe in—to not want to have seen it, Sweet Merlin just what have I done?

"I had to ram our minds, I got the impression that the information was that important."

"Severus! You could have gotten yourself permanently stuck in Harry's mind! You could have made Harry go insane because he had two personalities in his body! Sweet Merlin, you could have"

"Yes yes I know what I could have done, woman! I am a master Legilimens." In a show of characteristic anger, Severus got himself completely off topic. Albus, badly needing to know what the bloody hell happened said "We know Severus, now what happened!"

"They…rather his uncle…Albus Vernon Dursley…raped him." Finally Severus put into words what troubled him so greatly. Only Albus, like Severus, wished he hadn't known.

Poppy let out a gasp of outrage; it was one of the things he charm wouldn't register. You had to specifically look for that. All the blood fell from Draco's face.

"That's not all."

That one sentence made everyone in the room eyes widen. What else could they have done?!

"He..branded him, Harry's back has three words carved into it."

Poppy rushed into action. She torn off mandatory hospital issue pajama top, gently maneuvered Harry onto his side; and nearly cried at what it revealed. There, on the one to save them all's back were the three words Murderer, Freak, and Abomination.

A horrendous laugh filled the room as Poppy uncovered them. It was filled with bitterness and loathing. It sounded like the laugh of a madman, it reminded Albus all too much of one Tom Riddle.

"So you did see that little bit, Professor," Harry spat out the word as if it were poison. Harry rolled back onto his back and sat up. "Spread the word already, have you? Didn't even let me make a grand spectacle of it all. How disappointing." Words from his mouth dripped with disdain and sarcasm. Each one tore at the gentle reality the four had tried to create. They all hoped for the best after Severus uncovered the truth, Harry had to be okay. But now he was such a far cry from the boy he used to be. His entire aura had changed, he screamed of a person who had seen the edge of the earth and came back none the better for it. As if he'd seen the end of it all and decided it wasn't worth it.

"Sheesh, you people are bad at this. I can tell what each of you is thinking. Madam Pomfrey here is going "Such a nice boy, he was such a nice boy. How could they do this to him?" He said it in a false falsetto, making it all the more insulting.

"Malfoy over there is thinking of every little thing he's ever done to me and wondering "How the hell could I do that to someone like this?!" And dear, dear Professor Snape is trying to gouge his own eyes out at the memory he saw. But ah ah ah I did warn you sir." Wagging his finger towards Severus, Harry made it clear he felt no remorse for anything Severus was feeling at the moment.

"And for the grandest of us all" he made it sound as though he were in awe of Dumbledore, but everyone flinched at the statement. "Yes, the most wonderful, all powerful Headmaster Dumbledore! Greatest wizard of the century! And he couldn't even be bothered to send someone to check in on his pawn. Couldn't even think of the consequences of his actions because hey, he's all knowing, there's no way he could be wrong. No certainly not the magnificent Professor Dumbledore."

All of them grimaced at how on the mark he was.

"You're pathetic. ALL OF YOU!"

"Harry, my boy"

"Don't you FUCKING DARE call me that"

"Very well" the Headmaster nodded his agreement "but Harry I had no idea. I hadn't realized you were abused."

"To this extent you mean. You had to have some idea. How does someone who is supposedly pampered come back each year smaller and…and dirtier each fucking year?" Dumbledore hung his head in shame, it was true. He had known that the Dursleys weren't the ideal home for Harry. But it was the only place he was safe. From Voldemort anyway. How could I have been so wrong? Dumbledore was taking a big dose of reality and it was a harsh medicine to take.

"I know I have failed you Harry."

"No you don't. You don't realize just how much you have failed me Dumbledore. You know that you have but to the degree you have you are still clueless. I looked up to you for so long through all the times they did beat me, through all the times I was starved and hidden away so that they might have a "normal life." Every time I thought "just think of what Dumbledore would say to you right now. He'd go 'come now Harry it's not that bad.' And because I thought so much of you I'd tell myself to stick it out, I could take all this and whatever else they can throw at me. Because Dumbledore's right, Voldemort could do so much worse. But then they did exactly what Voldemort would do. They found a new way to try and break me. But this time they succeeded." By this point Dumbledore and Pomfrey were openly crying and the two Slytherins had hung their head so that no one would notice their eyes watering. His speech was so emotionally inclined you would literally have to be made of stone to not feel something. He probably could make a stone cry, Snape thought sardonically.

"And then just right after he violated me, he decided I should always remember what I am. I should always remember his lessons. As if I would forget this one. And he got out a knife, just a normal kitchen knife. And he made it so I would never forget him and his lessons." Now Harry himself was crying, sobbing really. His story barely intelligible but even if you couldn't hear what he was saying the despair, the shame, the pure anguish made it clear that he was well and truly broken. You didn't need to know the story to get the outcome of it all.

"So he carved the three most used words in the Dursley household, Freak Murderer and of course Abomination. Right onto my back. God that hurt so much. Not necessarily physically but rather mentally I realized that if there were wards around this house, should they not have alerted the one holding them, that hey the one they're supposed to be protecting is being treated as though Voldemort himself had captured me? In that moment I felt depression take its hold. I literally felt myself become hollow. I felt the fabric of my being unravel. But ironically enough my mind, the puzzle it is, came together and formed a nice neat little plan. Suicide. Such a sweet word. It held me like a mother would, encouraged me like a father should, and in the end led me to the path I most wanted. The one that would get rid of this pain. And you took me away from it, Dumbledore. After all I've been through it's the fact that you still won't let your pawn go that sickens me the most and makes me realize how badly you have fallen."

Everyone was struck speechless. Their minds grappled with the knowledge that, inadvertently or not, they caused this. They made this not yet sixteen year old think death was the only way to go and that they were keeping him here out of sheer spite. Had they not already been doing so, Poppy, Dumbledore, Draco and Severus would have hung their heads in shame. Harry nodded. Satisfied at last it seemed.

"Now, now you feel a tenth of what I feel. Enjoy it. And since you're all so hell bent on making sure I stick around for awhile, don't worry, I won't be trying suicide again. I mean I do have Voldemort to think of." They all understood the message veiled in those words, loud and clear. I'll kill Voldemort and make sure he takes me with him.

"Now if you would I do need to be healed. As there were obvious injuries you didn't know about Madam Pomfrey, would you kindly heal them?" Harry's persona had gone from kind, if not shy, boy to the hardened shell of a man. He had suffered abuse the likes of which few knew of, but he usually still came out better. Now though, now his innocence died in the worse possible way.

"Of course dearie." She said kindly. Not taking offense to his rudeness. Not now when she knew where it came from. Especially when she checked him over every year and never thought to ask if something was amiss at home. She had always chalked it up to boys being boys. How could I have been so wrong? Not realizing she was echoing Dumbledore's thought only half an hour ago.

As Poppy busied herself with getting the right potions and salves, Dumbledore looked at Harry and simply said "I'm so very sorry, my..Harry."

"Me too, Headmaster. Me too."

And with that Dumbledore left the Infirmary, thoughts weighing heavily on his mind.

(Was going to end it hear but thought you deserved a long chapter finally).

"There you go Mr. Potter. You should be all fixed up, everywhere this time." Poppy chimed with a smile.

The side of Harry's mouth lifted up into what could have been considered a smile, but turned out to be a bit more of a grimace.

"Thank you Madam Pomfrey." His voice vibrated through the room.

"No problem Harry, it is my job you know." She gave him another beaming smile. It seemed she was going to make her realm cheery, whatever the circumstances. Harry had to give it to her; she was trying to make everything normal. But that was just it, nothing between the five of them would ever be normal again. Not after everything they had witnessed. Not after everything that had been said—or not said.

"Now Harry, I want you to stay near the Infirmary for the remainder of the summer so that I might keep an eye on you." Obviously her parental/patient oriented instincts were coming into light.

This time Harry really did almost smile.

"Yes, ma'am. Wouldn't dream it any other way."

Severus had to hand it to the kid; he could have been an amazing Slytherin. He knew they would be expecting him to brood and sulk around when they kept him under close wraps. But he took the high road when none of them thought he still could. He still had some of his old self in there, he was just buried under years of abuse and recent torture.

Draco noticed the same thing as Severus. And became determined to find out just who Harry Potter is. Though it seemed obvious that even Potter didn't know who he was. It was like he couldn't tell if he should be the guy he used to be or the person he had almost become or even somewhere in between. As organized as his mind might be, his soul was in pieces.

The Potions professor and Harry's now ex-rival both took vows right there to help the battered and broken man in front of them.

Dumbledore's P.O.V

Harry had been raped. His innocence ripped away from him by the relatives Dumbledore had left him with. Dumbledore's mind still struggled with such knowledge.

Do I really believe myself infallible like the community thinks? Have I finally gotten so high up that the inevitable fall came? I…I was actually so arrogant that I thought I'd never fail. How could I? I mean I am Dumbledore the Headmaster of Hogwarts, most powerful wizard of the century and defeater of Grindelwald. He thought with a snarl.

God how could I have been so foolish as to think that Vernon Dursley wouldn't take it this far? I'd seen the way Harry came back every year. He asked me year after year to stay here at Hogwarts for Merlin's sake! I knew they kept him in the cupboard under the stairs for years, and I didn't do a damn thing about it. And I've cost the most important man in this era his sanity. Dumbledore stopped on his way to his office. Is that all he could think of? How important Harry was? With a slight stumble, Dumbledore realized what Harry was saying. He only now knew how much he had let Harry down not only because of what he let happen, but because of the fact that he bought into the whole Boy Wonder façade as well. He had let this all happen because he couldn't look at Harry as Harry.

Merlin this war…it must be won…at what cost? Dear gods above what can I do?

But in the recesses of his soul, Dumbledore knew. He had to go to Harry and explain the epiphany he had just had. To tell Harry that now he understood just how far he had fallen. And, above all else, give Harry a reason to live beyond killing the Dark Lord. To make him want to live again. More determined than ever before, Dumbledore finally made it to his office. He would need to think about exactly what to say before he faced Harry again.

I will help him. I have to help him. This is mostly my fault.

Draco's P.O.V

Draco stalked out of the Infirmary, the thoughts occupying his mind practically made him want to jump off the Astronomy Tower. But Potter would want to come with, he grimaced at the scene.

Yes it would play out nicely wouldn't it? Malfoy Murders Boy Who Lived And Kills Self! No one would have to know that Potter came willingly. How could we have been so wrong about him? A bitter smile crept onto Draco's face as he made his way to his rooms. Wouldn't it be hoot to finally realize he didn't want to be a Death Eater, only to go and do the one thing the Dark Lord wants most?

Dumbledore had given him sanctuary here at Hogwarts since his father had escaped Azkaban. Draco grimaced at the thought of the Dark Mark on his arm. That was the last thing he wanted. And now that he was here—just barely a week into the summer hols—his entire world gets turned upside down and all the rumors of one Harry Potter become reality.

I would say fuck my life, but his is worse than mine! Sure Lucius had given me the cane every now and again—like when Potter or Granger bested me—but ye gods! To starve and rape someone. He was right, that's exactly what Vol..the Dark Lord would do.

Draco entertained the idea of apologizing to Potter, but then thought of how he reenacted Draco.

The last thing he wants is to be pitied. But then how do I act around him now? Things can't be normal. If I go back there and try to be buddy buddy with him he'll probably tear my throat out. Merlin he just had to go and make everything topsy turvy! Maybe I should talk to Severus. See how he feels about all this.

And so with that plan in mind, Draco changed his route and started for Severus's private rooms.

Severus's P.O.V

Moments after telling the story of his trip through memory lane and Harry's heartfelt speech, Severus went to the nearest lavatory to vomit. The image of Harry, face down with that thing on top of him. It was burned into his retinas, continually scorching his mind. Harry had been right; Severus did want to gouge his eyes out. And then, Merlin, the man had grabbed that kitchen knife while Harry had still been trying to recover from the shock of what just happened to him.

Dursley enjoyed it. He sat there with a bloodthirsty grin and that knife and was ecstatic to be able to have such control over Harry. That man is more a Death Eater than the Dark Lord himself. Severus shuddered and dry heaved again. After his stomach finally decided to stop twisting into itself, he stood up and splashed cool water on his face. Severus sighed as the water hit his face.

How could I have been so wrong about his home life? Some of my Slytherins go through similar things and I always notice the signs. Could I have been that blinded by my hate for James?

I should talk to him the thought came unbidden to Severus's mind.

Why?

To apologize…or…or something!

He already said he doesn't want pity.

Then to empathize with him.

You've never been in that position. How can you empathize?

Then to at least find out how I'm supposed to act around him! I feel as awkward as a Hufflepuff in a fight!

Just then it hit Severus that he was arguing with himself…and losing spectacularly. He growled under his breath and swept out of the bathroom. He would discuss it with Draco.

Normal P.O.V

Harry sat idly on the Hospital Wing bed, swinging his legs over the side he decided to try and find his new room. Madam Pomfrey had said it was nearby. Not even thinking of the chaos he could cause by not being where he was supposed to be—or not caring—Harry made his way out of the Infirmary without a note of warning or backward glance.

It's so peaceful without the thunder of student's footsteps. Harry enjoyed the silence as he ran his hand along the castle's walls. He never did get the chance to truly appreciate the beauty of it all when he was in such a rush to get to his next class or Quidditch practice.

Life's too short to be spending it running around like a Hippogriff without its head. Harry giggled at the picture it formed. I think I'm starting to sound like Luna. Is this how she feels all the time? Detached and lonely? Noticing the darker turn of his thoughts Harry cut himself off from that train of thought.

Hmm…cut…wonder if Pomfrey has a monitoring charm on me as well? All it would take is a little conjuring and *poof* I could have a lovely blade.

Not liking who he had become, he shook his head to rid himself of the desire.

Still in a daze he accidentally ran his hand over a portrait.

"Excuse me, if you would watch where you're putting your hands." The voice was not unkind, but the owner didn't seem all too friendly either.

Starting, Harry stuttered out, "Oh I'm sorry! I wasn't paying any attention to what I was doing. Sorry."

"Just quit apologizing. What had your mind so wrapped up that you didn't even note your own hand trailing over a very elaborate picture frame?" The portrait seemed genuinely interested, Harry figured what the hell?

"Well first it was the castle herself, she's beauty personified. But..um, well recently some secrets of mine were thrown into the open and I was just…er I guess I was…trying to figure out who I am. There that sounds right." Quite proud of himself by the end of his explanation, Harry gave a wry smile to the man.

"She is isn't she?" the man in the painting said with a smile. "Secrets? And what kind of secrets can a lad your age have that he doesn't want out that desperately?"

"Umm…well I'm still not entirely comfortable discussing them." Harry completely disregarded his spiel simply an hour before. Honestly Harry wasn't entirely sure what he felt about what happened to him.

"Come now, lad. It can't be all that bad."

How Harry loathed that phrase now. It was what Dumbledore always said when he wanted to merely sweep a matter under the proverbial rug. Seeing red for a moment, Harry jerked himself back to the conversation and said, in the most apathetic voice he could muster, "I was abused for my entire life, mentally and physically, then raped and…and branded." He smirked a little when the man's eyes widen to comical proportions.

"Now tell me sir, is it that bad? Because I sure as hell thought so."

"My, my…just who are you?"

"Weren't you paying attention? I have no clue who I am." Harry's statement oozed cynicism. "But I go by Harry, Harry Potter."

"You're the one they expect to kill ole Moldywart??"

Harry was torn between saying thanks for the vote of confidence and laughing his arse off. He settled for "And who might you be?"

"Don't you recognized me, lad? I'm Slytherin, Salazar Slytherin." The man wore arrogance like a cloak, should have known.

"My apologizes, sir. They don't teach us much of the Founders. The most I know is that you and Gryffindor are male while Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw are female. And of course your House colors."

"Ah ah, don't assume that simply because we chose those colors for the Houses we represent, that they are our House colors." His voice had taken on a lecturing tone, and Harry was curious so he asked the obvious question,

"Pardon? I'm not following."

"The House of Slytherin's colors are actually dark green yes, but with brown, not silver. Gryffindor used red and purple" then in a conspiratorial whisper "they liked to stand out you see." And with the sound of a town gossip, "And Hufflepuff had yellow and pink, always thought they were a bit funny in the head. Always made me want pink lemonade. And Ravenclaw, blue and grey. We couldn't have let Hogwarts Houses use our family colors but everyone just assumes that they're our House colors because why else would we chose those colors?"

"Why couldn't you let the Hogwarts Houses use your actual House colors?" well and truly confused, Harry took the stance of an eager student.

"To simply put it, they all weren't family. It was considered rude to where another House's colors if you weren't actually related. And each family had the House colors they thought represented their House best. Slytherins like blending in, makes hiding and skulking about easier. Gryffindors wanted to be noticed. Hufflepuff wanted to be seen as calm and gentle. And Ravenclaw didn't really care. Which is why she chose a color close to her own House. She just wanted to get back to her books and knowledge."

"Wow. See they never tell us these things in school." With a start Harry realized he was practically pouting.

"They expect you to know. Purebloods are supposed to pass down the House colors and keep up tradition."

"Well Muggle born wizards and witches are coming in abundance, and they don't know all these rules. No one bothers to explain them."

"I take it you are Muggle born yourself?"

"Well not technically. I mean I was Muggle raised, but my father was a Pureblood." Harry stammered. He was still unclear to the specifics of his parents.

"Yes, the Potter clan. If I remember correctly you are actually related—incredibly distantly—to myself and Rowena."

"Really? I never knew. Wow, I'm related, however distantly, to two Founders. That's just, wow. What about the Weasleys? Do you know if they're related to any Founders?"

"Weasley, Weasley…ah yes! They are second in line for the sole heir of Gryffindor as a matter of fact, just behind the Longbottoms, dreadful surname that is. I mean why would you want your family to be named after…." But Harry stopped listening. Neville was the heir to Gryffindor, and Ron was his cousin or something of that nature. And he, he was related to Slytherin and Ravenclaw. He had to tell them!

Suddenly he felt an emotion rising in him he hadn't felt since the Triwizard Tournament. Excitement. Extraordinary. Harry was feeling again. That alone made a bubble of laughter to swell up in his chest and burst forth from his mouth.

Slytherin stopped and looked at the boy worriedly, his hysterical laughter seemingly coming from nowhere.

"I say are you alright there lad?"

But Harry, in his euphoria, didn't hear him or once more didn't care.

God it feels good to laugh. This is how it feels when I have my knife; maybe…maybe I don't need it anymore. I did say I would be here to kill Moldywart another snicker erupted from his mouth, but I might accidently cut too deep. Madam Pomfrey said that there's a vein on my thigh that I can bleed out of faster than if I slit my throat. Hmm…

"HARRY! HARRY!! WHERE ARE YOU?!" the concerned and frustrated voice of Madam Pomfrey drifted up the corridor and interrupted Harry's frenzy.

"Well" giggle "it seems" snicker "I must be" chuckle "going now." Finally getting himself under complete control Harry managed a full sentence, "May I visit you again sometime, sir? It was nice talking to someone who just wants to chat."

Eyeing him carefully, Salazar said "Of course, lad. Whenever you like. Just come up here to my portrait and if I'm not here simply call my name and I should arrive shortly. It was nice indeed to have an enthusiastic student once more."

Harry nodded his thanks and took off in the direction of Pomfrey's voice. Realizing he had walked farther than he had anticipated Harry made sure to memorize the way to Salazar's frame. It would just suck to finally meet someone he was related to only to forget where to find him.

Still just following the racket Pomfrey was causing, Harry didn't pay attention as he rounded a corner.

Smack!

"Shit!" Harry hissed as his head struck the stone floor. Of course he'd run into someone when he was in a hurry.

"Well well, Potter strikes again." A deep baritone reached Harry's ears.

And, of course, it'd be Snape. Murphy's Law and all that.

"Sorry, Professor. I was trying to get to Madam Pomfrey, wasn't paying attention." Harry said as he scrambled to right himself. Being splayed on his back was not a position he wanted to be in. When he and Snape were both finally standing, Harry felt himself get dizzy. For a moment the entire world swayed and he waited for the walls of Hogwarts to stop moving before he looked up to his Professor. With a start he realized just how short he was compared to his Potions professor. Harry's eyes reached the hollow of Snape's throat of the approximately six foot two man.

"Potter, are you…is your head okay? You seemed to have hit it dreadfully hard." His voice was kind of fuzzy to Harry. The whole corridor was kind of fuzzy now that he thought about it.

"Potter? Potter!"

Why was Snape falling? Harry reached out to help Snape and realized that it was him that was falling, not Snape. Weird.

Snape caught Harry and gently laid him on the cold floor, hoping the cold would keep him awake. "Harry stay with me, keep your eyes open. Stay awake Harry. Come on, Madam Pomfrey's almost here." Snape continued a stream of soothing words, not realizing his smooth voice was only helping to put Harry to sleep.

"You…you have a nice voice Professor. Never noticed that before. It's deep and kind of silky." Harry giggled. He felt more detached than ever, like his mind wasn't in control of what his body did—or said.

"M'sleepy, sir."

"No Harry, don't sleep. Haven't you been paying attention?! You may have a concussion, sleep is death." Severus cursed himself for saying that to a suicidal teenager. Not only was death a welcoming sign to him, all teenagers are impulsive. Give them an idea and they make it an action in less time than you thought.

"Death, always was a funny word. Such a small word for how big the emotions after it are." Harry's giggle was muffled somewhat. Severus glanced down and realized that Harry was going to sleep and so he bellowed out

"Pomfrey he's over here! Come quickly, I think he has a concussion!"

"Severus? Why were you around here? Oh nevermind, how does this boy get into trouble just walking around?" Her exasperation was palpable, as she settled herself by her most frequent charge.

"Mister Potter!" the nurse shrieked. In an instant the poor boy was up and looking around wildly.

"I swear I didn't mean to fall asleep in class, Professor!" his eyes still unfocused tried in vain to pinpoint what class he was in.

"There now that you are in no immediate danger of sleep, if you will help us get you back to the Infirmary, where you should have been all along." The glare Harry received then quelled any indignation he could have had at being woken in such a fashion.

And so Harry was half carried by Professor Snape and half walked toward the Infirmary and another set of demanding interrogations and diagnostic charms.

Oh joy. He thought irritably to himself. How he hated the Hospital Wing.

TBC…

A/N: There, you have now gotten a nice long chapter. Did I manage to catch anyone by surprise? How does everyone like it so far? Let me know if you have any ideas for some songs. I'm going to make the next chapter have Harry listening to some. Make 'em meaningful!

Me: Well…

Harry: I'm kind of scared of myself right now.

Me: You are quite crazy and bipolar at the moment.

Harry: Why?

Me: You've lost your identity and you don't know how to act. And so you act on whatever emotion you feel at the time.

Severus: Must he always run into someone from his inability to pay attention?

Me: Of course. It's such a cliché that it's expected.

Severus: Hmph!

Me: *cackles evilly* Just you wait.

Severus, Harry, and Draco: *backs away quietly*

Enjoy!