THC/The Houses Competition

House: Gryffindor

Category: Standard

Class: DADA

Prompt(s): [Scenario] Mentor Snape /Severitus! - Severus Snape becomes Harry's mentor. Alternatively, Severus Snape adopts/saves Harry. Suggested characters: Severus, Harry, Dumbledore, Ron, Hermione, Minerva

[Last Line] [He/She/Name] hoped it wouldn't be the last time.

Word Count: 1173

Warning: suicide attempt

Summary: Severus is out for a nightly walk when he stumbled upon Harry who is ready to end his life by jumping off the Astronomy.

Tittle: Wouldn't be the Last Time

It was nearly one in the morning as Severus made his way up to the Astronomy Tower for some fresh air. After a week of teaching dunderheads; dealing with seven potion explosions, along with an idiot Hufflepuff who somehow managed to set a pepperup potion on fire—which Severus had thought to be impossible until this week—he needed to clear his head. He wrapped himself tightly in the robes as the cold wind seeped into them as he made his way up the spiral staircase. As Severus opened the decrepit doorway to the balcony, he froze. What he saw would haunt him until the day he died.

A small figure stood at the railing, looking down at the one hundred and sixty-four foot fall. A child was about to take their life. Inching forwards, he recognized the child before him. The knobbly knees, the thin stature, and the messy, unkempt black hair. Panic struck the normally emotionless Professor, but he took a sharp deep breath to control himself.

"Harry?" Severus said smoothly.

Harry slowly looked towards him to see who had called his name. Severus would never forget the dead look in Harry's eyes—the same look that was in his Lily's eyes. To see Lily's eyes looking at him with such pain made his stomach churn and breath was as though all the innocence of being a child had been sucked away and all that was left was the knowledge that the world was an unfair and painful place.

"...Harry," Severus said carefully, he stretched out his hand towards the boy. "Can you come back over the railing? You're not in trouble; I just want to talk. "

How did the boy end up here in the middle of the night? Harry had always been a happy, well-adjusted fifteen-year-old boy. Severus had to admit, the Harry was a good actor; he managed to fool everyone in the school, including him.

"Don't call me that." Harry's raspy voice cracked when he spoke, as if he hadn't spoken all day.

"Call you what?" Severus asked.

"Harry, don't call me Harry." The boy's voice voice got stronger. "What happened to Potter or idiot child? You see that I'm about to jump and suddenly I'm a human being to you?"

Severus sighed as he took a tentative step closer, but quickly stopped as Harry shook his head and leaned off the railing a little.

"You don't want me to come any closer?" Severus inquired. With a nod from the child, Severus took a step back. "Alright, but you need to come back over the railing for me," Severus pleaded.

Harry looked at him with lifeless eyes. It was killing Severus to see Lily's son hurting so much. He closed his eyes for a second and took a deep breath as he tried to think of what to do. Severus wasn't the most caring person in the world and that most people did their best to pass him in the halls without making eye contact. When he opened his eyes again, he saw that Harry was staring at him, studying him like a wild animal which perceived danger.

Severus slowly and carefully reached up his left sleeve and tossed his wand to the floor, watching as it rolled a couple of feet away from him.

"I no longer have my wand. I am unable to do anything. I just want to talk with you," Severus said as he took a small step forward, holding his hands up to show that he had no tricks planned.

After what seemed to be hours, but was merely seconds, Harry said, "Please…just let me go."

Harry looked at him in an unbearable way.

"I can't do that."

"Yes you can!" Harry cried. "Just turn around and pretend that you were never here."

"I can't do that," Severus repeated. How could he allow Harry to take his life and pretend that he wasn't in pain?

"Why? Why can't you?"

"Because…I care about you," Severus admitted. Severus could have sworn that he heard a small laugh come from the boy.

"No you don't, you don't care about me," Harry cried as he looked down at the ground as Severus took another step towards him.

"No, I do. I care about you very deeply. Hermione and Ron, they care about you, too. The Weasleys, Remus, and Dumbledore, they all care about you. They all think of you as family," Severus said only to see that Harry was turning back toward the edge.

"I loved your mother," Severus blurted.

"...What?" Harry asked as he turned to face his Professor. Confusion was plastered on his face.

"I loved your mother, Lily. We were friends when we were in school together. She was so beautiful and caring. She cared about everyone; she never saw the bad in anyone. You are so much like her. I see her in you every day. She died to save you. Please don't dishonour her sacrifice." Severus begged, revealing the one secret he swore he would never reveal to another living soul.

Harry shook his head as more tears fell down his face. "You're lying–"

"Harry, I swear that I am not making up stories. Your mother and I were good friends until I screwed it up one day. Out of anger, I called her Mudblood, and she never forgave me for it. It was one of my deepest regrets and I would have done anything to take it back," Severus explained.

Harry looked at Severus, with fear evident in his features. "...I just want the pain to stop," Harry said softly as he looked back down.

Severus cautiously took another step forward. "I know Harry. I can help you. I can help you take the pain away. You just need to come off the ledge." Severus may have calmed down on the outside, but on the inside he was screaming. His heart pounded in his chest as he waited for Harry to make a move.

Harry just shook his head as Severus watched the last bit of fight leave the boy. "You can't take away the pain. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Harry whispered as he took a step off the ledge.

Severus took one final step forward and grabbed Harry by the collar of his sweatshirt and pulled him back over the railing, falling to the ground as he held the boy in his arms.

Harry cried as his body was slammed into the ground, feeling as his Professor wrapped his arms around him.

"It's alright Harry, I'm right here." Severus held Harry tightly in his arms. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere. It's alright."

For the first time in a long time, Harry felt safe in his professor's arms. Severus vowed right now to help Harry, and not just behind the scenes, but in daylight. He wouldn't let Lily's son feel this way. He wouldn't let Harry feel this way again. Harry felt as though things could be alright and he hoped it wouldn't be the last time.