BEYOND SECRETS AND LIES
CHAPTER 4

Disclaimer: I solemnly swear I am up to no good….fine! Harry Potter is not mine, but all original characters/ideas are mine to claim.

AN: Hey guys, sorry I'm late with this chapter. This one is a rather dark side to it, but with the way this story is going, it's gotta be done. I can't say anything more for fear of ruining it. Congratulations to those who guessed! You were correct! And now, onward!

>Chiki

Warnings: None.

- Despair -

Harry woke in a sweat in the middle of the night. He was now dressed in his pajamas instead of his school robes. Who had changed him, he had no clue. He fumbled for a moment as he slowly checked to see if each limb was working properly. He seemed to be perfectly fine, though his throat was sore and itchy.

It seemed to him as if he had been sleeping forever, and he was very happy to have woken from that nightmare. Relieved was a better word. The effects of that dream had started to fade away, but the memory of it haunted him. His fingers reached out to the side table, blindly, searching for his glasses.

The events from the day before came back to him, causing him to blush. He could not believe that he kept blundering and he buried his face in his hands. Letting out a growl of frustration, he made himself get out of bed. That was when Madam Pomfrey decided to enter.

"I take it you are feeling better, Mr. Potter?" She asked, looking him up and down. If she had heard him struggling while he slept, she gave no sign of it. Resigned, Harry could only nod.

From what he had seen looking out the window, it was the start of the afternoon already of the next day, which meant he had slept through the night. That was confirmed when he inquired just how long he had been out of it. He was glad that there seemed to be an improvement: the last time he had been visited in a dream with Bryce it had taken him a week and a half to get out of it. It was after that week and a half that Harry had decided to sleep in bits.

Still, he remembered clearly the warnings that Bryce had told him. Would he really find a way out? Not if I swallow that whole bottle, you bastard, Harry thought, grimly.

"Am I free to go, Madam?" He asked, when she finished writing his chart up. Unfortunately for him, he was forced to recount the dream to her. Nodding again in resignation, he began to speak.

"Paris was there….and so was Lilianna….and…him….." His mind ventured back to that dark place once more. "He said all sorts of things, and he threatened to hurt us all. He wants to come out." He raised frightened eyes to the nurse. "I'm scared." He left out some details and some threats, as they still made his stomach churn uneasily just at the thought alone.

Madam Pomfrey made no outward sign of shock, as she knew full well the extent of Harry's problem. She seemed worried though, and when he was finished, she put the chart down slowly. "I'll do everything in my power to help you, dear. But it will take some time, and it will take a lot of courage from you. I admit that I've never had this problem to deal with before, but then again, there are new cures being discovered every day for different things. Professor Dumbledore and I will see to it that you are not harmed."

Harry shook his head, feeling his blood drain from his face. "It's not about me, Madam! What if the same thing happens again? What if I - "

"-You won't. It wasn't your fault." She assured him, before he could say anything more. "If worse comes to worse, Harry, we'll protect the others as well. But in the meantime, you must fight. And you can't win the battle on your own."

He knew that. A sinking feeling in his gut clawed at him mercilessly as he realized that the battle was not going to be easy.

She instructed him to get a regular amount of sleep and to take his pills regularly, and reminded him not to overdose again. "The best way to fight is to act normal. If anything suspicious comes about, you come straight to me and report it." She picked up the charts once again. "If you'll excuse me now – I've got to get Dumbledore my report."

Harry watched as she began to leave, her robes trailing behind her.

0-0-0-0-0

It did not help that the whole school seemed to know that he had passed out during class. Excited whispers and looks flew about him as he entered the hallways. It did not seem that they knew the details and he was glad Hermione had not gone and told them what she had overheard. Still, it was hard to concentrate on his work with so many eyes watching him.

It made it harder when he was confronted in the hallway by a boy that he remembered to be in Transfigurations class, but had never acquainted himself with. Said boy was accompanied by two big guys. All three of them were clad in Slytherin robes and were intimidating.

"Potter." The pale-skinned boy sneered. It much reminded Harry of how Professor Snape always sneered at him. "You always have to be the center of attention, don't you? What's wrong? The Daily Prophet is not enough fame for you?" Harry couldn't help but hate that smirk that played on the lips of the boy before him.

Green-gray eyes flashing, Harry tried in vain to remember the boy's name but he couldn't. Just as he opened his mouth to retort a comment, a girl's voice cut in.

"Back off, Malfoy."

Malfoy raised his eyebrows in surprise. "What's this? You have a mudblood protecting you? I thought the famous Harry Potter was too good for that." His friends snickered and two pink spots appeared on Hermione's cheeks.

"You're just jealous because you don't ever get attention." She said angrily. "Besides, someone like you doesn't deserve it."

It was Malfoy's turn to get angry. "Stay out of business that's not yours, Granger, if you know what's good for you." They glared at each other for a while, and he shot Harry a look before stalking down the hallway. His two companions followed suit.

Hermione scowled at their backs, before turning to face an upset Harry. "What did you do that, for?" He demanded.

Taken aback, Hermione answered, "I was only trying to help you."

Harry snapped, "I could have taken care of it myself, you know."

She shrugged as if to wave off his anger. "It's only your third day here, and already you're making a record for yourself."

He could feel his ears heat up with his shock and embarrassment at her words. If she was implying that he went out looking for trouble, she was mistaken. He opened his mouth to object, but then closed it: she was in a sense, correct. He was embarrassed nonetheless that he had been unable to defend himself and it had had to be a girl to tell his rival off.

She began to lead him away, and he followed her, hunching his shoulders. "Don't mind Malfoy." She told him, over her shoulder. "He's got 'nasty' printed all over him."

"Who is he?" Asked Harry.

"Draco – the son of Lucius Malfoy: a powerful, rich, and influential wizard who works in the Ministry of Magic." Her voice grew sour. "And they're a family who believes that Muggle-born children like me shouldn't be studying at a place like Hogwarts."

Harry said nothing, tucking his books under his arm as he filed that name away in his mind. He remembered Snape praising Malfoy the other day. If Malfoy was Snape's favorite student that was enough to dislike him even more.

Hermione probably didn't want to hang around him after all she'd seen and heard, so he made to leave her alone. He was surprised when she suddenly turned to face him. "Why are you snubbing everyone that tries to befriend you? You totally ignored me today in Potions."

Harry couldn't help but stare. What was she so upset for? Was the lack of his amity really something that bothered other people? It was certainly the first time something of the sort had happened to him. He ended up stammering an apology. "I-I'm sorry…." He wasn't even sure what he was apologizing for.

At that moment, Ron came running up to them. "There you are." He panted. He nodded towards Harry. "Feeling better?"

"Fine. Thanks." Harry told him, tightly.

"That's a good thing too." Hermione said. "When I heard you overdosed, I thought you wouldn't wake up."

Harry swiped a hand over his face, the feeling of frustration he had been tucking away since he'd woken up returning. "Why do you even care?" He demanded.

"Because friends worry about each other." was her simple response.

He was even more confused. "You really don't want to be friends with someone like me." He heard himself saying. "Besides, maybe you should listen to what Malfoy told you: Stay out of business that is not yours."

Both Ron and Hermione glanced at each other as Harry backed up, clutching his books to his chest tightly and ran off, silently berating himself for his wonderful choice of words.

Exchanging looks, Ron glared darkly after him. "Pretty much shoved our proposal for friendship in our faces." He moodily rubbed his hands together. It was getting colder outside and standing in the outdoor corridor was making him shiver.

Poor Hermione looked as if she had been slapped. Ron didn't seem to notice as he continued, saying, "I told you to back off him, Hermione. I told you he wouldn't appreciate you going through his private affairs."

She finally glanced over her shoulder wistfully. "Fine, I'm sorry. I just…" She trailed off. What exactly had she meant? She had meant to merely make him feel welcome. She supposed it was the same as reading through one's personal diary. She would have to apologize when she next saw him. She didn't want him to hold a grudge.

With the sun setting in the east, the golden rays from had turned the sky into a rich red and had left a few angry orange streaks in the sky. A few birds had begun to take flight to migrate somewhere warmer. Winter at Hogwarts did tend to get cold. Pretty soon, students would be bringing out their scarves and heavy cloaks for protection against the bitter winds of the north.

They made their way to the Library as they often did before dinner time, to catch up on some homework and to study for the upcoming exams. Most of the time, they made progress, but this day, it was a little different.

Just as they opened their books, an owl came swooping through the window, which Ron had been about to close. It was a school owl and in its talons it held a small rolled piece of parchment. Hermione untied it from its leg and gave the brown and white speckled wings a pet before the thing flew off. Luckily for them, the librarian hadn't seen as it was not allowed to have animals in the library.

"What is it?" Ron asked, finally shutting the window. Hermione had managed to untie it and unroll it. After a brief scan, she excitedly whispered, "It's from my parents."

"You actually asked them?" He sounded surprised.

She nodded vigorously, eyes scanning the brief bit of parchment. "They replied very quickly, knowing them…."

She looked anxious and excited at the same time and no sooner had he sat down at his place, when she started reading it out quietly.

"Dear Hermione,

How are you, dear? We hope school is well and we'll know you'll make us proud as always. Unfortunately, we don't know the medicine that you mentioned: Olazine isn't something we use for dentistry. We did look it up for you though, since you were so worried about it. We found a very close match to the one you described, called Olanzapine. Is that what you were meaning to say? Anyway, this medicine is found in the class of Antipsychotics and decreases unusual high levels of activities in the brain. It is a tablet taken orally once a day and it is used as treatment for schizophrenia. We hope this helps in your research for your Herbology! If there is anything else you would like to know, mail us again!

Love Mum & Dad"

Hermione finished, and brought her eyes to Ron's. She couldn't believe it. "Ron," She whispered faintly, "I was so wrong."

Ron could only raise an eyebrow in incredulity. "For your Herbology class?" He asked, teasingly.

She went pink as she let the parchment fall to the table. "I had to say something to make my question credible. I can't very well come out of nowhere and ask them for that information….and I can't very well tell him that a classmate overdosed on these needed pills…."

"Of course – it wouldn't be normal." Ron said, bitingly. "Oh, but then again, he's not normal anyway! He's schizophrenic!"

"Shh! Not so loud!" Hermione cried, wanting no more than to fly across the table and clamp his mouth shut. She didn't know whether to be happy with the newfound information, or faint. Instead, she felt numb.

'You really don't want to make friends with someone like me.' He had said. He had tried to warn them. He had tried to distance himself, to keep his secrets to himself. The question was, would they let him know that they had discovered it? He might never forgive them for prying…and she had wanted to apologize for that too.

Ron didn't look pleased at all. "I bet you Dumbledore already knows about it." He was saying, picking up his quill and twirling it in his fingers absently. "And I bet that's the reason why Harry got suspended from his old school."

Hermione couldn't help but smirk. "Now look who's jumping to conclusions." She reached over and put her hand on his, and his eyes came up to meet hers. "Listen, Ron, I'm sorry I never listened to you…if Harry is going to get mad at anyone, it should be me."

He smiled a bit, and took her hand in his, gently rubbing his thumb against the back of hers in little circles. "Don't be silly; you're not the only one who knows his secret."

It's a secret. Hermione thought. A secret no one must find out about, so he can at least keep his dignity.

"Let's study." Ron suggested, surprising himself with the statement. He just wanted to drop the whole topic and forget it ever happened. He didn't want to stress Hermione out with his dark thoughts.

She took her hand back and bent over her books, resigned.

A secret…..

0-0-0-0-0

"Come in." the voice rang out, sharp and clear as the two figures stepped into the room cautiously. The room spiraled upward, making one have to crane their neck to be able to see the roof far above. On the walls were pictures of men and woman, all of them wizards both from the past and of the present time. They spoke in low voices, a thrum of activity behind their brazen portrait frames.

The pair swept into the room adjacent, into what seemed a study hall, where instead of pictures, there were books. Dozens of them in different shapes and sizes, in every corner, on every shelf. And right in the middle of it all, sat Dumbledore at his oak desk, his countenance serious.

Beside him sat a beautiful bird, like fire come to life, preening its red and gold feathers delicately while cocking its head toward the two invited guests in curiosity.

Dumbledore looked up over his spectacles at the two of them. "Welcome, Maje. I hope you didn't have trouble finding the place?"

"I didn't, thank you." He gestured to the figure beside him. "Hagrid was a huge help."

The headmaster looked pleased, and he addressed the half-giant. "That will be all for now, Rubeus. I have a few things I would like to discuss with….Maje. Please wait outside."

"All righ'…" Hagrid said hesitantly, and he clumped off noisily, occasionally glancing once or twice over his shoulder at the two of them, very puzzled and just as curious as the phoenix that squawked in farewell.

Dumbledore gestured to a comfortable chair - rich red in color - that was off to the side close to the desk. "Won't you have a seat, sir?"

He watched as his guest complied, taking off his cloak and throwing it over the chair's armrest before sitting down. He did not seem relaxed, however, as he sat on the edge of the seat, his fingers knitting themselves together nervously.

When he spoke, it was in a low voice that did not match the youthful face. Dumbledore quite forgot himself as he listened. "I am worried for the boy."

"Harry, you mean?" The headmaster finally asked, when he forced himself to pay attention.

Maje let out a sigh. "Yes. Harry. I'm worried that he can not hold out much longer." His fingers undid themselves and rested on his knees, on the grey material of his pants. "You know what he went through, sir. We can't have it happen again."

Sadly, Dumbledore nodded. "We have found no cure yet, Maje, and it will take a while before we get close. We have to trace it back to its roots."

"No one can ever know." Maje told him, almost desperately. His green-gray eyes flashed. "…..It must remain a secret." He emphasized.

The headmaster nodded his understanding, and the phoenix beside him grew bright with flame as if it too, were agreeing. "We're doing everything we can. But young Harry must remember that he must keep quiet and be cautious, too. He will adjust eventually."

It was hard speaking of Harry in third person, when Dumbledore was looking him square in the face. At the moment though, it wasn't Harry who was present in mind. He remembered meeting Maje for the first time, when Harry had first set foot on Hogwarts' soil. It was he who had laid the boy's past out in detail and he who had begged for the help.

It was Maje who spoke with Harry's lips and was speaking once more from them, and in all truth, it made Dumbledore's spine tingle.

"Bryce scares him." Maje said. "And Bryce is fighting to come out. Harry is afraid, sir. He can't fight on for long."

Stroking his chin, Dumbledore gazed at the young wizard before him. With so many skeletons the closet, it would be harder than he thought.

"Snape has the right to know." He said finally. "I know you don't like the idea, Maje, but…"

"The boy is coming to." Maje interrupted through Harry's mouth. He didn't sound happy. "Promise me…"

"I promise to do all that I can." Dumbledore said.

"What? …Professor?" Harry's voice had returned to normal, and he blinked wearily, taking in his surroundings. "When did I…?" Maje had disappeared, and the student looked lost and confused.

To ease his panic, Dumbledore said, "Maje and I had a little chat, Harry. We're sorry to have woken you up." He had been informed that the boy had gone to take an afternoon nap after taking his pills on strict orders from Madam Pomfrey. Maje, however, had decided that was the best time for him to speak with the headmaster and Hagrid had been sent to accompany him to avoid suspicion.

Harry seemed uncomfortable as he shifted his weight. His hands went up to bury his fingers through his dark hair as he suppressed a sob.

Dumbledore couldn't help but feel sorry for him. "My boy, I'm behind you every step of the way."

Harry nodded wordlessly as he let the tears slip down his face.

To Be Continued…..

AN: Ron and Hermione have found the secret, but there are as many truths about it as there are lies. I hope you guys enjoyed the last chapter, and I would really appreciate it if you would kindly review for me before you exit this page. They really keep me going, greasing the wheels in my head.

I know this chapter was a little mundane, but next chapter it should start picking up pace. There were some answered questions, but I bet new ones have arisen! So, please review and the faster I'll update!

>Chiki