[a/n]Based on a suggestion fromKimberlyT ***Warning, not a happy outcome*** Started this up about Christmastime, just couldn't finish it during the Holy day.

Harry eventually thinks it over and figures out that the Pensieve viewing in OOTP - that infamous chapter titled "Snape's Worst Memory" - was STAGED for him. So yeah, whether or not the memory itself was staged, the Pensive viewing certainly was.

Harry Does Different CDLXXVIIb

Snape's Worst Memory

In the aftermath of seeing the behavior of James Potter in the Potion Master's pensieve Harry Potter became morose. First his class participation dropped to near zero. Within days, his grades began to crash. The only hint of a smile came when Ron tried to encourage him "Go on Harry! Ya gotta eat!"

"Ron's right Harry. You have to keep up your strength." Added Hermione with a cheery tone that did nothing to hide her worry.

To this he made a gory mess of a whole meatball, making some of the surrounding students cringe. That, however, was his only sign of life. And even that feeble act was shortly quashed.

"Mr. Potter!" came shrill announcement from the Head Table "It has come to our attention that you are performing most poorly of late! You will report to my office this evening for detention! 7PM SHARP!"

Ignoring the cackles of laughter from even kids who were somewhat friends, he sat there looking down at the congealing meal for a time. They were just kids being kids. Then not responding even to Hermione's reminder about taking his books, slunk out.

Abcij.

Seamus Finnegan had run up to change after a minor accident in Potions. Of course, that was his opinion. Snape had deducted fifty points, never mind having to walk the halls with half his uniform missing and the remainder dripping. He noted his dormmate and commented "Not everyone was laughing, Potter."

"Off you go, Hedwig." Harry told his owl, tying a letter to her ankle "Sirius is probably at HQ, if not do you think you can find him? OK! I get it! You can do anything." The last was in response to a scolding squawk as the she hopped to the window.

In a friendly way, the Irish boy bantered "Got you well trained."

"If I cared about your opinion, Finnigan, I'd ask for it. Or maybe your bitch mother. You forget about her?" retorted Harry. Though there was no heat in his tone and his eyes were rather lifeless.

Seamus blinked, trying to process what he heard. Once he did, he roared incoherently and eschewing his wand, simply charged, fists swinging wildly. After a few minutes, panting hard, but completely unharmed, he stopped and demanded "You …gonna ap…ologize Potter?"

"Would …you… like to hit me more?" asked Harry. He was sprawled half on his bed bleeding from a number of wounds. Various bruises were developing. He'd made little effort to defend himself and hadn't thrown a single punch at his attacker.

Seamus' jaw dropped. After shouting "YOU'RE A FREAK POTTER!" he threw up his hands and stormed out.

Laying there for a time, Harry's brain worked unaffected by his damaged body 'Wonder why Snape did it? Declares an early end to the lessons and just walks out. Leaving me alone in there, when it wouldn't have taken more than five additional seconds to usher shove me out and then lock up. After YEARS accusing me of EVERYTHING up to and including criminal, such as theft. Didn't learn a lick of Occlumency. Maybe the memory itself was faked!' So thinking, and somewhat energized, staggered to his feet to seek answers from his tormentor.

Abcij

Under his Invisibility Cloak, Harry limped all about Hogwarts, seeking Snape. He'd passed Ron, or Hermione, or both without revealing himself. Class times were irrelevant in his current state. Some time after dark, he was near Myrtle's bathroom when he heard voices. As he closed in, one was Snape's clearly. He pulled his wand in full preparation for cursing him. A purplish glow appeared that an expert would recognize as the Cruciatus.

"… did you get through the wards?" Harry heard the last bit of the Potion Master's question.

The reply only slowly became audible, likewise with the voice "… … … an old man his secrets, Severus. Now, please, information on Delores is easy enough to obtain. Where you are with young Harry, is not readily so. Report please."

And about halfway through the student recognized the former Headmaster, he restrained himself to listen. While more than a little curious as to HOW Dumbledore got in the school.

"As you wish." Came a drawl "Despite my opinion of the brat, he would truly become a formidable Occlumens if given the proper course. I am frankly surprised he has gone on a rampage. Even if he did not have the brains, something I consider all too probable, Granger or Weasley certainly could tell him I need not have placed that memory IN the pensieve to prevent its viewing. Merely left it on the shelf. I may have to revise lower my already pathetic view on Potter."

Dumbledore could be heard to *tsk* before ordering "Then what is Harry's reaction to what he learned?"

"At staff meetings Professors in class have reported dismal performance. Classwork as poor as homework. Participation has been all but nonexistent." This might have been the most having report he'd ever offered about the clone of his nemesis, except for the clear look of pleasure on his pale face.

And the old man scolded him for it "Now, Severus, nothing is to be had from taking joy in another's suffering."

To that, Harry couldn't help but smile himself under his cloak, but it didn't last.

"I feel nothing but remorse having to put that boy through what has been a miserable life." Said Dumbledore "I only act for the Greater Good. And for the sake of the world, Harry must die fighting Voldemort, and you fully know why. Having anything really positive to latch onto would only give him a false hope and distract from the task at hand."

The boy under the cloak almost gave himself away with a whimper of anguish. By his own words, the man Harry worshipped as his savior from the hell of Dursleyland had just convicted himself of committing the abuse he'd suffered his whole life. It no longer mattered whether the memory he'd seen was true or not. Nothing mattered anymore.

Abcij

For the next few minutes a seemingly random selection of students seemed to walk into walls that weren't there or actually been pushed by what was guessed to be an invisible specter. Peeves maybe? The source was never tracked down. It also did not make sense that the prank-crazy spirit would sob at the execution of a successful one.

Abcij

With classes in full swing there was little chance Harry would be disturbed in his dorm. The utterly betrayed and humiliated boy cried for quite some time. And, still leaking tears, he took pen to parchment and detailed what he learned. Once completed, he wiped his face of evidence of crying. Perhaps an hour had passed since he spied on Dumbledore and Snape. He called for the only one he could trust in this situation "DOBBY!"

"Great and wonderful Harry Potter called. What can Dobby be doing for sir?" said the obsequious elf with a bow.

Despite what he was feeling, or perhaps because, Harry smiled a bit. Then said "I need a favor. No questions asked? And I promise it is nothing illegal. I just want you to deliver a letter. Hedwig is out on another job and there's no one I trust more than you."

"Dobby is deeply honored and will complete the assigned task with much humil…" he poured praise on the young wizard he hero-worshipped.

In his misery, Harry had tuned out the elf and allowed him to speak until he lost his patience. Firmly but kindly, he cut in "Thank you Dobby. Now, I want you to wait about a half hour then give it to Hermione Granger or Ron Weasley. They're to read it to as many people as possible in the Great Hall. You can certainly stay while he does, but I'm trusting you NOT TO until then."

"Dobby would never violate Harry Potter's trust." The elf looked horrified at the notion, and the pledge was made as if stating a law of nature.

Giving a smile he almost felt, Harry patted the narrow shoulder and said "I know that, Dobby. Again thank you. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to be alone. I have something to do."

"Can Dobby help?" came plaintive request.

The smile was gone "I don't think so. It's …I need to do it alone."

"Dobby understands Harry Potter, sir. Dobby will do as Harry Potter orders." He took the offered scroll with near reverence.

The teen only had enough left to nod and say "Goodbye, Dobby." Certainly Hermione, very probably Ron as well and maybe many more who knew Harry would have noticed something wrong in that tone. As it was, Harry took a couple minutes to shed much of his clothes. Clad only in boxers and tshirt; he gathered all his pain and anguish, let out a primal cry and ran through his dorm window. The moment he began falling he felt at peace. It is generally assumed that a fall from a tower as high as Gryffindor results in a death where the victim feels little, if any, pain.

Abcij

The courtyard is deserted between classes, so the body laid there for twelve minutes. This was plenty of time to ensure beyond doubt that Harry was irrevocably dead. It cannot be said any one person discovered the body, as much of the student body has to walk through the courtyard one way or another between classes. Dozens of high-pitched screams filled the small garden. And despite the stereotype, not all were girls.

For the sake of order it was, perhaps, best that Peregrine Derrick [the Slytherin Head Girl] who was a Malfoy ally, was on hand and able to take charge emotionlessly "Right. Everyone out. Urquhart, block the south door. Bones, the east door, use some of your aunt's attitude. Davies, north. Keep moving people! Move it! Yes boy, it's a body. And you can be the most use to me reporting this to Professor Babbling, hers is the nearest classroom." She hazed Dennis Creevey through the door which she would man.

Abcij

An hour later a still weepy Hermione Granger, flanked by the four Weasleys and Dobby; That last either ignored or unnoticed by Draco Malfoy; entered the Great Hall and flash/banged her wand for attention.

"Miss Granger? I do not approve of my students using magic in such ways." Professor McGonagall scolded.

Those close enough to the young witch could see a glare that in every way rivaled that of the Deputy Headmistress, she gave the scroll in her hand a slap "After what this says, I cannot say I approve much of you! Harry was not an accident victim nor even murder, though I wonder if I might write your aunt, Susan. This might be a case for manslaughter."

The redhead Hufflepuff almost giggled. It was the second time in as many hours that she was the center of attention. But she stiffened at the seriousness.

"Miss Granger I expect you to abide by your Head's edicts." The pink-clad Headmistress ordered perfunctorily.

Here Ginny spoke up sneering "Why? You've spent this year pulling her teeth and claws."

"You go lil sis!" the twins high-fived over her head.

McGonagall look apoplectic "I shall see the five of you in detention!"

"That would matter if I had any respect left for you. As everyone will see." Hermione's voice filled the Hall without shouting "Harry's last words. Ron, Hermione, I'm sure this will hurt but really, there was nothing else for me. Sorry. For whatever it's worth. Just to make sure scum like Malfoy doesn't get my stuff, this is my will that you two split all my property. Why? I guess everyone is asking. Well about a week ago I saw a memory of my Dad acting like a dick to Snivilus. That was his nickname back then. Made me sick to see Dad acting like that."

The Potion Master actually paled "That will be ENOUGH! Mudblood!"

"Piss off Snivilus!" the Weasleys shouted as one.

Before continuing Hermione smiled at them "Then, wandering about the school I wanted to be totally alone, so I was going into Myrtle's loo. But I heard voices. Snape was meeting with his evil master. No. I don't mean Voldemort. Seems Umbitch ain't as in charge here as she thought."

"Enough of this! Hold your tongue Mudblood!" screeched the Headmistress.

Simultaneously Ginny's and Ron's wands flashed "Silencio! Incarcerous!" And practically in the same voice "She will not hold her tongue! Hold yours!"

"AS I was saying" Hermione offered them a grimly congratulatory nod "Harry wrote of Snape meeting with EX Headmaster Dumbledore. I think maybe the whole pensieve memory was faked. Why else leave me there to see it? Anyway, that doesn't matter. Turns out the two of them were plotting …all my life… to serve me up to Voldemort. And here, I thought the old bastard was a hero. There's just nothing left to live for."

As the teen witch broke into tears, Ron took the scroll before it dropped and held her. He looked about the room contemptuously and sneered "Well? That's all there is. Hope you lot are happy."

The only sound was the echoing of footfalls as they departed.