The following morning Ron ran out of the dormitory, down the stairs and over to Hermione, Ginny, Fred and George.
"Ron, what's wrong?" Asked Hermione.
"It's Harry. I think he's cracking again. Like last year."
Fred and George followed Ron back up to the dorm as Hermione and Ginny ran out of the common room to find McGonagall.
"Miss. Granger and Miss. Weasley. What are you doing running the halls and not at breakfast?" Inquired Professor Snape
"It's Harry, sir. Something's wrong." Said Ginny
"Professor, do you remember what happened to Harry last year?" Asked Hermione
"Yes."
"Well, it appears as though it's happening again."
"What do you mean, Miss. Granger?"
"Professor Dumbledore says that Harry has to go back to the Dursley's. Last Friday Sirius was trying to get Harry away from those Muggles."
"Professor, please." Ginny pleaded.
Severus stood frozen in place as he remembered the year before. It had been his fault that Harry had slipped from reality.
Hermione and Ginny grabbed Severus's hands and pulled him to Gryffindor tower. As they approached the portrait of the fat lady, Hermione and Ginny were having problems remembering the password. Suddenly the portrait swung open. Several Gryffindor's exited. Hermione and Ginny pulled Professor Snape through as Neville fell out, pale and shivering at the sight of Professor Snape.
Hermione and Ginny quickly moved through the common room and up the stairs while keeping their hold on Professor Snape. Several students were watching and murmuring about why Professor Snape was there. Percy looked up at the stairs and saw Professor Snape being pulled along. He quickly ran out of the common room.
Percy first checked McGonagall's office. When he discovered that she was not there, Percy than checked the teachers lounge. Again he did not find McGonagall. He continued to run through the school heading for the dinning hall.
"Professor. Professor McGonagall." Yelled Percy
"What is it Mr. Weasley?"
"My sister and Hermione Granger were pulling Professor Snape up to the boy's dormitory. Second year's to be exact."
"What?"
"Professor Snape. Griffindor tower. Second year boy's dorm. I think it might have to do with Harry since I did not see my brothers in the common room."
McGonagall grabbed hold of her robes, hiked them up and ran to Gryffindor tower.
Once Professor Snape was pulled into the dorm his eyes glanced around the room. When his fell on Harry, curled up in the fetal position, he shook off the girls hands and walked straight over to the bed.
"Potter…Potter." Said Snape as he gently shook Harry. "Someone, go get Professor McGonagall. Quickly."
Just then Professor McGonagall, breathless, came bustling into the room nearly knocking Hermione and Ginny down.
"Oh….dear….Severus, do you think it's like last year?"
"It seems to be Minerva, though the circumstances are different."
"Can any of you tell us what happened?" McGonagall asked while looking from Ron to Fred to George to Ginny and to Hermione.
"After what happened after the match Harry was feeling really down. Once Percy and Professor Dumbledore returned it wasn't so bad. So we have been trying to cheer Harry up. Last night we were all talking and trying to figure out how this summer would be okay. That maybe Harry could spend part of the summer the Weasley's. We did come up with some really crazy possibilities that were not even likely. We went as far as some of us going to visit Harry but that's not even remotely possible for obvious reasons." Replied Hermione
"Very well. I will have some food brought up to all of you. Don't worry about your first class today. Be sure to make it to the rest of your class." Said McGonagall as she conjured a stretcher for Harry.
"Madam Pomfrey." Called McGonagall
"Oh my. What happened?" Asked Pomfrey as she motioned for McGonagall and Snape to put Harry on one of the beds.
"You remember what happened on Saturday after the match?" Asked Snape.
"I do. But what does that have to do with now?"
"Potter was more upset about Percy and Albus than it seemed. Even after they were put right. Potter was still up set about it. Not to mention that he had thought he would be living with his Godfather, Sirius Black. Albus feels that Potter must return to the Dursley's for his own good and protection."
"Minerva, doesn't Albus know how it is for Potter with those Muggles?"
"He is aware of it." Replied Snape.
"And yet he insists on the boy going back?"
"Yes." Answered McGonagall
All three looked up as they heard the doors open to the hospital wing and saw Dumbledore walking towards them.
"How is he, Poppy?"
"I'd say not good. I will do what I can for him but I don't know it will help or not."
"Albus, you can't make Potter go back to the Dursley's."
"Severus, he has to."
"Do you remember what I told you last year?'
"I do Severus. I have talked with the Dursley's and have arranged for them to be watched."
"Do you really think that will change anything?"
"Last summer went by just fine I see no reason why it won't be fine this summer."
"Albus you do remember that Harry left the Dursley's and ended up at the Weasley's last summer?' Asked McGonagall
"Yes. I remember Minerva."
"And you're making him go back to them?"
"He'll be fine."
"What if he is not?"
"We will have to wait and see."
"Am I allowed to care for my patient?"
"Of course Poppy. We shall go now." Dumbledore said as he left the hospital wing followed by McGonagall and Snape.
That evening after dinner Hermione, Ron, Ginny and the twins went to the hospital wing to see how Harry was doing.
"Madam Pomfrey how is Harry?" Asked Hermione
"The same as he when he was brought in."
"He won't be sent to St. Mungo's will he?" Asked Ron.
"No. This is not a result of magic."
"We won't stay long." Hermione said quickly
As Madam Pomfrey went into her office the five of them quietly pulled chairs around Harry's bed and sat down in the chairs.
"Shouldn't someone notify Sirius?" Asked Ginny
"I will in the morning. It's too late tonight." Said Hermione
"You could do it tonight Hermione."
"No I can't Ron. I'd get into trouble."
Ron leaned over and very quietly said, "I could pull out Harry's invisibility cloak, you could send the letter tonight while hidden."
"Oh. I don't know."
After an hour the five of them got up and left for bed. Halfway to Gryffindor tower Hermione spotted McGonagall.
"Professor"
"Yes, Miss. Granger?"
"I was wondering if Sirius has been informed? I know he doesn't have custody of Harry, but he's still Harry's Godfather and I think he should know. It might be good for Harry to have Sirius here."
"No one has of yet notified Sirius. You are right Miss. Granger. I will send an owl tonight before I go to bed."
"Thank you Professor and good night."
The following morning Sirius arrived at Hogwarts and went straight to the hospital wing.
"Why wasn't I informed immediately?"
"My apologies Sirius. I have no reason to give you. You should have been informed right away." Said McGonagall
"Does Dumbledore still insist on Harry going back?'
"I'm afraid so."
Sirius said nothing more. He closed his eyes and took several calming breaths before going over and sitting next to Harry's bed. After a few hours and no change, Sirius got up to stretch his legs.
"Madam Pomfrey, would you happen to have some extra parchment, a quill and some ink that I could use? I would like to send a letter to a friend."
"Sure Sirius. Let me go get that for you."
Once Sirius had what he asked for and Pomfrey had returned to her office he quickly wrote a letter to Remus. After he finished the letter he got up and went to the owlery to send it.
On Sirius's way back to the hospital wing he bumped into a few students.
"I'm sorry."
"Sirius, it's okay, don't worry about it."
"Hermione, right?"
"Yes. Any change with Harry?"
"I'm afraid not. Would you happen to know where the Dursley's live? I would like to have a word with them."
"Number Four, Privet Dr. Little Whinging, Surrey. Sirius, just don't do anything that would get you into trouble."
"I promise I will only have a word with them."
"Sirius, what if Harry doesn't snap out of it by the time the summer holidays come? Would he be able to stay here?"
"I don't know Hermione. But I will find out."
"Sirius, when you have a word with the Dursley's, scare the fat off of them. Don't physically hurt them or touch them, just scare them." Ron said.
An hour before dinner at Hogwarts Sirius decided to leave for a while. He showed up in Little Whinging and after a half hour he found Privet Dr. Sirius walked down the street to number four, proceeded to the front door and knocked.
When the door opened, Sirius saw a big beefy man with nearly no neck and a large mustache.
"Can I help you?" Asked Vernon Dursley
"Yes. First of all are you Vernon Dursley?"
"Yes I am."
"Could I come in and speak with you and your wife?"
"About what?"
"Harry Potter. You see he is my Godson. I feel it would be best to speak inside."
"I have nothing to say to you!" Barked Vernon as he slammed the door shut and locked it.
Sirius looked around to be sure that no one was walking about or looking through thier windows. He had a good glimpse of the other side of the door, so once he was sure that he wouldn't be seen he apparated into the house.
"What the bloody hell?" Vernon looked up to see Sirius standing there, "GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!"
"Not until you hear me out."
"Get out or I'll call the police. A break in."
"Good luck with that. The door is locked, no windows are broken there are no signs of forced entry. Go ahead and call, I'll be gone before your police get here. How would you explain that?"
"V-Vernon what's going on? Who is this? What does he want?'
"Ah, you must be Petunia. I am Harry's Godfather and I want to have a word with all of you about how you treat Harry."
"What sort of rubbish has the little freak been saying? We have done nothing wrong."
"Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, I am extremely and a powerful man. It would not be wise to anger me. Treat my Godson as if he were your own son. If he's neglected or harmed in any way you will find out how dangerous of a wizard I can be. Now show me Harry's room."
"V-Vernon I think you should do what he says."
Vernon, while keeping an eye on Sirius, showed him Harry's room.
"This is not acceptable at all! The bed needs to be replaced and new bedding is needed. Oh and clothes of Harry's own and not Dudley's old clothes. I want all of this done before Harry returns. I will be back to see if this has been done."
"You can't be serious! We don't have money for that!" Spat Vernon
Sirius conjured some clothes for Harry.
"You can get Harry's correct size from these. Just from looking around this house you can afford it. Find the money. Stop spending so much on Dudley. Just remember you will be watched. Once Harry is back here, I better hear from him. Just so you know, I recently have released from Azkaban Prison after roughly eleven years."
Petunia gasped at hearing Sirius had spent time in Azkaban.
"Ah, Petunia you know of the prison. Good. You have a good idea as to what I said down stairs. You all have a lot of work to do. I will be going now. Good day to you both." Sirius said just before he disapparated out of the room.
Two days later and there was no change with Harry. Sirius was worried that Harry might not snap out of it. He had forgotten about Hermione's questions.
Remus Lupin walked through the doors to the hospital wing. His gaze fell on Harry and Sirius. Remus walked over and gently shook Sirius who was a sleep.
"Sirius, I got here as fast as I could."
"Remus we have to do something."
"I know."
Dumbledore walked through the doors and spotted Remus.
"Remus, how are you?'
"I'm alright. Albus, what happens if Harry is still catatonic when the summer holiday's arrive?"
"He still has to go to the Dursley's."
"I understand about the wards. But wouldn't he be protected here at Hogwarts just as well if not even better then at the Dursley's? If he is still like this, how will he be able to defend himself? How will he get nourishment? As it is now, food is being spelled into him."
"Harry will go back to his only living relatives this summer."
Though Harry was indeed catatonic, he could hear everything that had been said.
'No! I can't be like this at the Dursley's. It would not take them long to have me locked up in a mental institution. They'd be happy to be finally rid of me. Sure I'd be happy, I'd be away from them. But, I'd be so doped up that I wouldn't be able to do magic. Voldemort wouldn't have me in his way to return to power. I wouldn't be able to save anyone from dying. I have to snap out of this! But how? No! Don't think like that. Get up and go to bed in Gryffindor tower. Just do it." Harry thought.
