Harry woke late next morning, his head still full of broken dreams and quiet conversations. He rolled over in his bed, pulling up the duvet and settling down for a nice lie in.

Except all he could think about was him. And it was pissing him off. Snape was an enigma, an obsession almost. He always had been, Harry couldn't deny that he was drawn to him in school. His sheer hatred and sadism made for a worthy adversary.

And even now, without the bitterness and sarcasm he was still just as compelling, more interesting than others. To just look at the man, the way he held himself, his quiet regard, made you know that he was thinking, a thousand thoughts a second. No one else that Harry had encountered had intrigued him more.

Their conversation last night had at least served to break the ice properly, had answered questions that no one else could, and it was along this line of thought that Harry realised that the path to his old self lay within Snape. His trusted friend and colleague. Snape knew things about him that not even Hermione knew, not even Albus, with his staggering display of knowing absolutely bloody everything there is to know about anybody.

He hunkered down some more, eyes closed, wondering how long he could savour the sleepy feeling.

Eventually he had to get up to go to the bathroom.

He found some socks and pulled them on, having learnt that its not always fun to find the cold bits of stone floor that weren't covered by the carpet in the middle of the night. He moped into his sitting room, yawning and trying to get his hair to lie down.

On the mat by the door lay a note, placed there no doubt by a house elf. Why they couldn't leave them on the table he didn't know. Maybe they wanted it to seem more urgent, as though someone had been up themselves and placed it under the door. Whatever reason, it was all crap to Harry and he muttered so as his back protested as he bent over and picked it up.

It was a note, explaining that he needed to come down to the lab in order to do an allergy test before they could carry on with the next instalment. Around about fourish so that they wouldn't miss the banquet.

Harry frowned and rubbed his eyes, he dropped the letter on the table and looked over at the clock.

12:23

He headed for the shower.

IVIVIVIVIVIVIVIVI

What with 'Fourish' having no precise time (Unlike Snape, Harry noted.) he decided to head down at about quarter to, so that by the time he got there it would be closer to four, the right side of four, if you're meeting someone. Better to be early than late, his inner voice chipped in.

On the way down he encountered no end of giggling girls and jockeying boys, all making the most of their last hours in the castle before they left tomorrow to find jobs and make something of themselves in the real world.

Harry felt a pang of longing. He would have done anything right then to just remember how his last night was, did they pull any pranks, did they have a party. How did they all say their goodbyes.

Even the air in the dungeons seemed a bit more cheerful as he headed down the narrow corridor, past the dormitory, towards Snape's office. Whose door was ajar.

Harry knocked and walked in, looking around his office. There was a shout from the other room telling him to come in. following it he went straight through the lab where he found Snape carefully measuring out something that Harry prayed wasn't going to be in his potion.

"Wonders shall never cease." He muttered dryly, tipping the contents into a jar that was held above a long flame, Harry realised with dismay that it was going to be in his potion. He looked up, wiping his hands on a towel. "You're actually here early."

Harry flashed him a sardonic smile and sat himself on the work top. "I thought I should make the effort." He replied.

"Yes, well." Snape said, not actually following it up with anything, making Harry feel slightly triumphant.

"So…what do we have today?" Harry asked, eyeing the simmering jar.

Severus followed his line of sight and kept his grin hidden, it did look bloody awful. "Something new, i've had to take out the reactant ingredients that caused your…um," He waved his hand vaguely, "But ive come up with a way of recreating the process using milder techniques which perhaps won't kill you."

"Always a plus!" Harry chimed in.

"Yes," Severus carried on, "But I'm not entirely sure of its potency. It is, after all, research. We'll only find out when you take it."

"And I get to take it now?" Harry asked.

"Not quite. I need a little something." And with that he turned on Harry with some scissors. "Hold still."

'Hold still', is perhaps not something to say to someone when you're coming at them with a pair of scissors. "Uh, why?" Harry demanded.

"Because I need your hair." Snape stated simply. "It allows a genetic marker for the potion to react with to make it compatible with your body."

"But you took my blood! Why can't you use that?" Harry wasn't entirely keen on having a patch of hair missing from his head.

"Because your blood has magic in it, honestly Harry, you can be an idiot sometimes." Harry knew, Snape had said this to him often. "Now please, sit still?"

Grudgingly Harry allowed him to carefully select a few hairs from the back of his head, 'where it wouldn't be noticeable', and sprinkle them into the still steaming jar. Severus muttered to himself as he stirred, occasionally making a note in the journal on the desk.

There were a few minutes of silence in which Harry played with a few of the tools on the bench and Severus didn't shout at him. Out in the corridor Harry could here laughter and a few bangs followed by a disturbing amount of thick green smoke pouring into the office from the hall, all of which Severus ignored.

"Finished." He said at last fixing a rubber bung into the top of the vial and handing it over to Harry.

"Thanks." He managed, feeling a little humbled that Snape had gone so far out of his way to fix up a new potion for him. "Take it before bed?" he asked.

"Yeah, about half will probably do, for now anyway. Don't want to fry your brain." He finished dryly.

Harry slid off the bench and stood for a minute sorting out his robes, "So," he said a little awkwardly, "What time are you headed up?" He asked, pointing at the ceiling.

Severus glanced up, a little bewildered. "Oh, the banquet. About half an hour, albus wants us all in there before the students. Apparently it gives them a good last memory of home." He said it like he didn't believe it.

Harry nodded, "Well, ill see you up there then." He said genially and turned for the door.

"Just a warning Harry." Snape called out behind him. Harry turned.

"Make sure you lock your door this evening."

Harry frowned, "Uh, why?"

"It's the last night." Severus said, as though it explained everything. "You'll be amazed at how many students, upon realising they may never see you again, feel it necessary to declare their undying love for you."

Harry almost laughed, an image of hundreds of year sevens trying to break down his door. "Sounds like you speak from experience." He quipped.

Severus rose an eyebrow, "You'd be surprised." He made a dismissive gesture. "Just heed my words, and I'll see you at dinner."

Harry smiled and headed out the door, seeing for the first time how he and Snape could have been friends.

IVIVIVIVIVIVIVIVIVIVIVI

Dinner was indescribable. Harry remembered all the leaving feasts he had been to but this outdid them all, the hall was decorated to within an inch of its life and the food would probably have fed at least five thousand, each bite left you craving for more and Harry found himself having to pace his meal so that he didn't die.

The headmaster had made a speech that would no doubt linger in the minds of those leaving for quite a few years, a lot of girls cried and Harry could see that quite a few boys had distinctly shimmering eyes. The whole experience left a knot in Harry's stomach, thinking whether his leaving feast would have been like this. He clapped and cheered and smiled when the indoor fireworks went off and when Dumbledore asked the seventh years to stand. He was reminded of Snape's words when he was approached by a knot of girls who all asked him to sign their yearbooks, which was awkward seeing as how he didn't remember any of their names, although they promised to come back and see him.

"Harry, my boy!" Harry turned and found Filius ambling along in his direction looking very merry, he motioned Harry down with his hand. Harry stooped so that the other man could whisper to him. "A few of us are going to mine so we can have a bit of a nightcap, if you want to join?"

Harry nodded, "Sure, ill come by later, ill change first though," he said, pulling at the neck of his shirt.

"Good, Good." Filius said, "Oh, and could you tell Severus and Albus." He pointed to where the two of them were talking to the current head boy. Harry nodded.

He waited until the boy left their company before he went over.

"Um…" he caught their attention, "Filius said that he's having a get together in his rooms, wondered if you wanted to go down?"

"Oh now, isn't that lovely!" the headmaster exclaimed waving his hands in the air in a vaguely frightening motion. "I do love our little party's." he whispered and winked at them, giggling a little. When did he say to go down Harry?"

"Um, he didn't. I was just going to shower and change and then head down." Harry shrugged.

"Well, heads of houses usually spend a little time with their students after dinner, so hows about we head down at nine?" the headmaster said, checking his pocket watch. "Speaking of which." He glanced over the top of his glasses to look at Severus.

"Fine!" He said, "I'll be going then." He gave the headmaster a wry smile, then placed a hand on Harry's arm. "Ill see you later."

Harry stared at him, eyes following him out the room as he felt the lingering shock resound through his body, a little itch on his arm.

"Well, I'll walk up with you." Albus carried on, leading them out of the hall and towards the stairs. "Everything holding up for you then Harry?" he asked halfway up.

"Seems to be," Harry said truthfully, "a bit of me is beginning to be logical and accepting. It's still really frustrating, but I've had some really good talks with Hermione and she's helping me see things a little straighter."

"Well, it's good to see you smiling." Albus grinned. "And with summer here now, things can only get brighter!"

"So what does happen over summer," Harry asked, "I mean, do I get to stay here or should I go back to London?"

"Oh, do what you please," the headmaster said airily, "everybody comes and goes as they please, you'll often find that we have quite a few extra's roaming around, they like to use the library to do research. Just do what you want; we could always do with you here!"

Harry nodded, "I might stay for a while then, if that's okay, do a little research myself." He looked up at the headmaster, who gave him a toothy smile.

"Good to hear it lad, now if you don't mind, I shall part ways here, got a little note to send to the parents of a certain third year," he said, patting his pocket, Harry knew he was talking about an incident involving a broom cupboard, a smoke bomb and a large hula hoop. "I'll see you later!"

Harry waved him goodbye, keeping his smile in check as he heard the headmaster bid good day to a set of armour.

IVIVIVIVIVIVIVIVIVIVIVIVI

Harry had made it down at about 9.15 after having a mild argument with the house elves who refused to put his mail anywhere other than the doormat. It turned out all it was, was a late delivery of the new quality quidditch supplies catalogue, which he'd thumbed through quickly and then cast onto the table.

He was neither the first nor last to arrive, which suited him fine and he quickly found himself emerged in conversation with Professor Hooch, glass in hand and beginning to feel a lot better about his entire situation. He was lucky, he knew it, to have this brilliant circle of people around him who were willing to help and be there, how many other people could say that.

It was a good evening in all, and he'd found himself beginning to relax a lot more around the people he'd previously known as his friends. Near the end of the evening he was approached by Severus reminding him to take the potion, which was good because Harry had actually forgotten. He stayed and talked for a while, but all the time Harry was aware that something was off about him, that there as some kind of awkwardness around him, and each time their eyes caught Harry felt that little part of his arm heat up as though his stare was some sort of catalyst.

He seemed lost, Harry surmised, his Snape watching skills at their best. He saw it because he recognized it in himself, could remember all the times that he just let conversation slide over him while his mind was busy elsewhere, set upon paths that would never be walked and dreams that would never come true.

Harry was close enough to him to hear him mutter an excuse, saying that he was leaving. He was just about to ask if he were alright when a sudden barrel of pain rushed between his ears. Harry couldn't be sure if he'd made a noise, but his throat felt strangled as his mind burst with sound and vision, a blistering cacophony of action, cause and consequence flashed before his eyes and then vanished, leaving him stricken under the eyes of the Hogwarts faculty.

"Harry!" The headmaster was next to him, hand on his shoulder to keep him from falling from his precarious perch on the arm of a chair. "Harry?"

Harry shook his head, wide eyed, as though by keeping them open he could avoid the sudden barrage again. "I think I remembered!" he gasped, swallowing thickly around his heavy breathing.

"What. What did you see!" Harry looked up at the crowd pressing round him.

"I don't know." He rushed, "Let me …think."

He stared at the floor, blinking rapidly as he replayed the visuals in his head, each a partial image or blur of a memory, like picking through hours of CCTV footage until you find your murderer. Then suddenly…

"I remember you." He said loudly, looking up, eyes focusing straight ahead on Flitwick, who recoiled slightly at having so much sudden attention. "I remember you, being here," he paused as he dragged the image back from the recesses of his mind, "You were showing us how to make a drink, and you forgot to put the lid on the mixer."

"Well…that was two weeks ago!" Filius cried, looking round for people to confirm.

"And you remembered that, just now Harry?" The headmaster asked.

"Yeah, and other things, but I can't make them out. It's like…shadows on the edge of your dreams, I can see them, but when I try to look at them directly, they disappear." He felt himself slump. He knew he shouldn't be disappointed, that he'd just remembered something new, but he could help but feel frustrated at the lack of anything solid.

"That's twice now." A voice cut through his thoughts. He looked up at Severus, "Twice you've remembered something while you've been in the same surroundings."

Thoughts and questions slid into Harry's head, maybe Snape was on to something, maybe association would help, it had worked in the flat, actually putting himself there and trying to relieve it. Maybe he could do with any situation. A flicker of hope came to light in his chest, making his heart beat fast at the very notion.

He stood up, he needed photos, he needed to start looking, start researching.

"Harry?" Albus looked at him with question in his eyes.

"Um," Harry rubbed his face, "I need to go, I have to sort some stuff out." He put his drink down, unaware of the muttering around him. "I have to go and try something." He bid them goodnight and thanked Filius for the good time before he hastened down the corridor.

He was halfway along the short cut between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor tower when the door behind him swung open, the wind slamming it against the ancient brickwork. Harry turned swiftly and found that Severus had followed him.

"Harry, wait!"

Harry stopped unwillingly. Irritated at the delay. "What?"

"I just thought I should warn you against doing anything tonight." Severus said when he finally reached Harry. Harry stared at him as though he'd sprouted wings. "It's just, your mind's just been through a traumatic event, I don't think it's wise."

"I'm just going to look at some photos." Harry said defensively.

"You're going to try and force yourself to remember." Snape came back, pulling his wind whipped hair from his face.

Harry shivered in the night, "Is that so bad!" he shouted, feeling anger creep up within him, "What's wrong with wanting my life back, and when I'm given a glimpse you want to take it away!"

"No I don't." Severus replied, "But I'm worried that you'll do yourself more harm than good. This is a very tricky field Harry, mess about too much with your mind and you could end up losing things forever!"

"Like I haven't already!"

"Please Harry,… just don't!"

Harry stood still, there was something in the way Snape had spoken that had made him stop.

"At least wait until a time when you can be watched over, just to make things safe."

Harry found himself speaking, "Fine." An empty word that seemed to appease the man in front of him. "I'll wait."

"Thank you, that's all I ask." Severus seemed relieved and now that tempers were abated, concentrated on settling his robes.

"Well, if that's all." Harry carried on, "I'll bid you goodnight." He inclined his head, and Snape did the same.

He turned to leave.

"Harry?"

He turned back

"Promise me."

"What?"

"Promise me you won't go back to your rooms and ignore my warnings."

Harry stared long and hard at him. At this new man, that knew so much more than him.

"I promise."

He walked away feeling entirely unsettled.

And he walked back to his rooms, waved at the wall until the light turned on. He walked straight over to the shelf where he'd placed the vial Snape had given him earlier and tore the stopper out, he placed it to his lips and tipped his head back, downing the vial in one. He breathed in deep as he felt it fry along his nerves, and unpleasant tingling sensation pooling in the nape of his neck.

He flung the empty vial back on the shelf and looked around, eyes fixing on the silver frame and its occupants. He grabbed it and headed over to the sofa where he threw himself down, holding the item so close that it took up all his vision. And he concentrated, looked past the people and around the picture, feeling himself there, ignoring the fire behind his eyes. He willed himself deeper, could almost feel himself looking through the lens of the camera, and the edges of his vision greyed, his mind numbed at the effect of the potion running it's course. Harry growled in frustration and shook his head.

"Not now!" he whispered harshly, pushing back into his own self, unlocking doors and trying to kick them open. But the darkness grew, and no matter how hard he shook his head, Harry couldn't shake the shadows away. The sliver frame dropped to the floor with a thud.

IVIVVIIVIVIVIVIVIVIVIV

Harry screamed as he woke up. Hands covering his ears as the sounds coming from the walls seemed to magnify as they passed into his head.

And slowly he realised that he wasn't hearing things, that there really was an ear-splitting ringing coming out of the walls.

He staggered to his feet and groped at the back of the sofa, horror churning in his stomach as he finally made it to the window. He leaned out, looking over the balcony with his blurred eyes.

Tears sprang unbidden to his eyes as he was transfixed by the most terrifying sight he'd ever known.

The castle was on fire.