Warning

Cuss

Sensitive

Harry stayed in his routine, taking care of Fawkes as his friends seem to believe, and he allowed them to company him since Dumbledore wasn't here. They didn't hear the password, he didn't want them to know at all, and kept himself quiet for most of the time. Fawkes chirped excitedly for Harry and he smiled to see him. He sat down on the chair and the phoenix would come to him. He patted him softly and his best friends were glad to see some normality in him.

They would follow him all day for the past whole week. There were his moments he would simply break down and cry out of unexpected time. His best friends would cover for him and the teachers would go along with it. Nothing was the same for Harry. Everything he sees, hears, and feels affected him personally and he couldn't control it. He wished he could talk to someone, but who? Without feeling betrayed or speaking out the truth.

His friends wouldn't leave him alone and constantly help him out to remind him that he is safe. Harry mentally thought for now.

"Do you feel safe with Fawkes, Harry?" Ron asked.

Harry nodded, "Yes…but he won't leave his owner."

'Funny, I won't leave my master either…I guess I could understand Fawkes's situation.' Harry thought.

Harry tried to avoid moving his head anywhere so he could pretend he's actually taking care of Fawkes. Of course, Fawkes would fetch the brush and allows Harry to smooth his feathers out. Hermione and Ron were impressed to see how smart the Phoenix was. They watched him in a calmly manner.

"Miss Granger and Mr. Wealsey, please leave, so I may have talk with Mr. Potter." Professor Snape suddenly announced.

Harry tensed up and gulped. He nodded towards his friends as they felt no need to leave. They didn't want Harry to be upset over the dream again.

"Please, Professor Snape, do not touch Harry." She turned her voice into a whisper, "He's finally calm right now…he hasn't at all for a week now."

He nodded and the two friends rushed out to prevent any points taken off or receive detention for not getting out of here quickly. Snape crossed his arms and watched Harry brushing Fawkes at comforts.

"Would you like to talk about this, Potter?" Snape offered.

Harry shook his head, "No…" He said quietly.

"Potter, you are acting very strangely for the past week and I suggest you come to my office in the morning."

Harry froze and repeated what Snape has just said to him. His breathing pattern became irregular and snapped his eyes shut instantly.

"No…" He whispered, "…please, don't do this to me." He whimpered.

Harry's hands jittered uncontrollably and Professor Snape didn't understand what was wrong with the boy.

"P…Harry, it is only to talk. I promise you no Occlumency lessons. Just to talk." Snape managed to remain calm and peaceful about this.

Harry grew to feel dizzy at the fact everyone was revealing their true personality and potential. He was seeing Snape as…a good man and that his master is a dark man somewhat. He tried to breathe again and remind himself that he has his security on his side.

"May I bring Fawkes with me, if I agree to see you in the morning?" Harry wondered.

Snape wanted to say no, but he saw how calm Harry was with the Phoenix in the room. Remembering what Hermione has said that he's finally calm after all this week he has been through.

"As long he doesn't make much of distraction or a mess, I suppose that is fine." Snape approved.

Harry nodded, "…what do you want to talk about?"

"Anything."

"…I do not know what else to say, sir."

Snape nodded, but he could see that the boy was stubborn to not talk about this.

"Po…Harry, despite of being on each other's bad term. You are free to talk about anything." He offered.

Harry nodded, "Thank you, sir, but I will be fine. It's just…starting to hit me now." On the fact everyone is much different to his point of view.

Snape understood, in a way, and walked away. Harry returned to take care of Fawkes' feather and he would moaned in Harry's gentle brushing. His best friends returned and wondered what happened between the two.

"So, what did Snape wish to talk about with you, Harry?" Hermione peered into this subject already.

"He wants me in his office in the morning to talk to him." He answered, the only honest answer he has given them.

Ron laughed his heads off, "Professor Snape wants you to talk to him? Oh, bloody Merlin!" He couldn't help himself and laughed it off.

Harry didn't see it that way, he felt that Snape was only to be sure of this dream situation, and Harry knew this to himself. It was basically trying to find out what's wrong with him and why his behavior acting out of line. He knew sooner or later the teachers would want to talk to him about this. These professors do not always believe his friends could help him in this matter, but no one suspected anything different. As long he kept it away from the idea of being rape by someone they knew, they would have to be kept safe and alive because of him.

Hermione glared at Ron for being immature and he shuts up immediately. Harry finished brushing Fawkes and handed the brush back to Fawkes. The next thing the Phoenix brought was a can of food. Harry didn't mind since it was better than being in the bedroom with his master.

"Snape probably feels he can handle whatever I have to say, but I don't think he can." Harry stated.

Ron glanced up, "Mate, you don't have to tell him, but I think you should at least give us a clue what happened in the dream."

Hermione agreed, "Yeah, Harry, bottling yourself up isn't healthy."

Harry didn't believe they would keep on going, but he was too focused on Fawkes to remain calm.

"What would you do when someone hurts you and you are defenseless?" Harry questioned her.

Hermione blinked several times, "I-I would have fought somehow, we are not defenseless-"

"-No! As in you cannot defend for yourself no matter how many times you fight!" His knees gave in and cried.

Ron and Hermione watched their best friend break down in something they couldn't understand what has gotten into him. He refused to let anyone hurt or touch him personally, yet, it grew to be overwhelming.

The next day arrived and Harry retrieved Fawkes before heading to Snape's office. Fawkes remained on the boy's arm, which puts him at ease. Everyone was glad enough to see Harry back to normal somewhat, but they still whispers that he was becoming a nutcase to the school already or other nonsense rumors. Harry's friends had to get to class and decided to gather his homework then. The boy didn't mind and he had Fawkes with me.

He knocked on Snape's door and Snape answered him in less than a minute. He gestured his welcome into his office and closed the door after Harry walked through.

"Harry…" Snape shook his head, "The teachers of yours are concern about you and your health being. Care to talk?" He offered some seats.

Harry patted Fawkes to remember he was safe more than he could count on. He sat down on one of the chairs slowly, still feeling ached from last week, and Snape noticed his seating position took a while. He decided to sit down as well and kept a good distance to face the boy.

"Harry, from the way I am seeing this. Your dream is making you feel the pain and this is a serious matter."

Harry tilted his head, "I am not feeling psychical pain, Professor Snape." He wished, but at least he's half telling the truth.

Dumbledore did numb him out to get what he wanted from Harry and it just affects his mental health wise.

"I see," Snape nodded, "So, tell me what happens in your dream? Take your time, though, Po…Harry."

Harry blocked Snape from the chances of reading his mind personally. There was no way he wanted anyone to know what he was going through and he would be blame for the death he did not mean to cause.

"I…I am just a sixteen years old kid, Professor. I'm just a kid…" He wept and lowered his head.

Fawkes rubbed his head against Harry's chest and he tried to calm down again. Snape observed the interaction between the two, seeing how much has gotten to Harry, and he sighed.

"Harry, do you feel that you wish you have nothing on your shoulders to carry on?" Snape wondered.

"Professor S-"

"-Snape is fine."

"…I-I don't understand why I have to do this," His lips quivered, "…he's hurting me…." He whispered, "In a way you have no idea what he took from me." He desperately wanted to burst into tears, but he didn't want to cause too much trouble for Snape.

Snape nodded, avoiding the line to make Harry to cry in pain, and not seeing what triggered the overwhelming teenager.

"Harry James Potter, you have went through many difficulty and you are letting your fears hold you because he took whatever it is away from you. There is one thing he cannot take is your tenderness to love around others or at least have others care for you." Snape stated directly to the boy.

He remembered how Dumbledore was afraid of his brother and the choker, he feared for him, and he didn't think his master would actually care. Despite of his innocence and virginity stolen, he started to look things up as a better view. Albus did not hurt him after staying obediently and doing as he told, until that he messed up. However, Aberforth made things worse for him. Harry looked over to Fawkes and somewhat smiled.

"I know…but, it would be nice that I can be like everyone else. Why do I have to be the one dealing with this?"

Snape nodded, "I see your point, Harry, but you are the only-" Snape caught his own words and decided to change it, "-to make the choice. Just because everyone says you have to do it, it does not mean you live to their expectation. You can follow your own as well, Harry."

Snape found it difficult to keep calling him Harry instead of Potter, but he wanted to gain the boy's trust one way or another. Harry pet Fawkes some more, thinking about how his master would know and discourage him for even trying, and he had to lead another life for everyone to think he's having a messed up nightmare.

"Yes…but, I'm just a kid with magical powers. How am I any different from the rest?" He mumbled.

Snape wanted to say he was more than that, but he feared he might direct his words to the opposite purpose.

"How do you feel that you are different from the rest?" Snape wondered.

Harry blinked once, "…because I'm a freak everyone either hates or wants or to use."

Snape shook his head and stood up to stand in front of the boy, "You're not a freak, Harry. You're just different. Everyone's unique in their own standard. Look at Neville for instant, you know how he is with spells and potions, yet, he field himself in Herbology. He feels good in that field. Ron found himself a well player in Quidditch field. Hermione field herself of Apparition. Everyone has a place and I am sure that you feel your place is something other than what it is expected of you."

Harry froze at his professor's words and felt safe now. He wasn't too sure if he could trusts the man yet, but he felt safe. He glanced over to Fawkes and nodded. The phoenix flew off back to the headmaster's office to leave Harry alone. Snape didn't understand what might cause his words to place an effect on Harry, but it was better than nothing was at all.

The boy walked up to Snape and hugged him willingly. Snape was stunned, at this sudden course of action, and he tried not to do it too personally. He slowly placed his arms around the young teenager and Harry cried. There was a slight flinched, but Harry refused to step aside.

"Thank you…" He whispered.

Snape kept quiet and let the boy try to figure this matter on his own. He had no idea why Harry took such a big step of being touched, but the professor knew something was up. He couldn't place his fingers on this very subject to why. Yet, he had to wait and see if Harry will open up.

"Harry, if you need to talk to someone. You know my office hours, feel free to come anytime." Snape offered.

Harry tightened his hug for the man and Snape wasn't feeling comfortable about this anymore. He begin to wonder why he even talks to the boy at all.

"Don't be anyone but you, Snape….don't change, please." He begged the man.

Snape sighed, "Harry, why would I change?"

The chosen boy released the man and held his breath. He walked out of the office and let Snape stumped.

Reviews please? PM? Anything? Please? A critique would be great! Next chapter tomorrow~