Harry lay staring at the ceiling in the boy's dorm. His eyes felt heavy and he was exhausted. But sleep did not conquer the teen's mind. Sighing he sat up, funny he thought, a year ago he would've been able to wake up Ron and they would've talked the whole night until they fell asleep. He closed his eyes then stood up sliding his shoes on he walked towards the door pausing to stare at his former best friend. His eyes took on a haunted look, making him seem like he had seen more than just sixteen years of life. Shaking his head at the fact that Ron's foot was hanging out from the bed, he moved silently and slid it back on the bed under the blanket. He could and would watch out for the redhead. He continued and finally made his way down the stairs into the common room. The fire had burned low casting an eerie glow on the room. Sighing he sat down on one of the chairs lowering his head into his hands. He almost wished he wasn't back at Hogwarts, raising his eyes he turned and smiled as Hermione moved to sit next to him.

"How did you know I'd be awake?" He asked. Hermione laughed as she folded her legs under her body.

"Harry I've known you five going on six years now. How could I not know?" she pointed out laughing. The two smiled silently. After a few minutes Harry sighed.

"Just what is it I'm supposed to be doing Mione? I honestly don't know anymore, I mean this summer has been one of the weirdest yet...most hell I don't know what I'm trying to say." Harry said frustrated running a hand through his hair. Hermione stood and knelt down in front of the chair reaching out she trailed Harry's old scar down to his new one.

"I'd say this summer has helped you grow more than anyone could have ever imagined. You've changed a lot, some of it good, you think things through more, you put your head into school. But you've also withdrawn from all of us, and I don't mean Ron. Harry you are trying to hide everything that bothers you!" She said, when Harry lifted his hands to cover his face she grabbed them holding them tightly. "If you won't talk to us then you need to talk to Professor Snape. We might not like him but he is your guardian." She added sternly. Harry managed a tired smile at her.

"I'm fine. And I am not trying to hide anything, come on Mione when have you ever known me actually able to keep something to myself? I just always blow up." He pointed out. Hermione narrowed her eyes.

"Harry James Potter, you know what I mean. If you think it's to protect someone then you keep it to yourself! You bottle it all in and then brood like you are doing tonight." She pushed. Harry tugged his hands free and sat up more staring into Hermione's eyes.

"I'm alright honestly, I just have a lot on my mind right now."

"Then go talk to Snape about it, he'll at least make sure you get some sleep." She said standing, she grabbed his hands and tugged him up. "And I intend to make sure that's what you go do! Now move that ass of yours Potter get to his rooms now or so help me you won't like the hex I put on you!" She threatened. Harry held up his hands in surrender.

"Okay, alright you win Hermione I'll go talk to him. Though I really don't see what the point is." He said walking towards the door.

"The point Mr. Potter is so that you actually talk to someone, anyone and if Snape is that person then so be it." She said pointing to the door. Harry paused beside it and turned.

"When did you get so wise?" he asked. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Harry," She said in an exasperated tone of voice, "I've always been this wise you just never noticed before!" she pointed to the door. "Now quit stalling."

Harry rolled his eyes and slipped out into the hall, he knew if he came back Hermione would drag him to Snape herself, he glanced around the hallway as he whispered "luminous" under his breath raising his now glowing wand. Walking past the paintings he tried not to laugh at the grumbles and comments he got as he walked past.

"Up to more trouble again I see Mr. Potter!" one particular painting called out in a cheerful voice. Harry turned but when his eyes graced the painting all it was, was a simple still life no figure was on it. Frowning Harry moved on his way. A little further down another painting called out to his attention.

"I still say a better Slytherin you would have made!" the same voice called out. Spinning Harry saw a blank space on the wall where the voice seemed to have come from. One of the other paintings an old man coughed.

"Don't look at me young whiper snapper I didn't say a word!" he declared in a cranky voice. Harry blinked. He had to be going totally nuts. Shaking his head he finally walked down the stairwell to the dungeon.

"Keep an eye on that last step it's a mite bit slippery." The voice called out as Harry's foot touched it, Harry turned and sure enough the step was coated in water sliding he hit the floor his knee colliding the edge of the stair. He sat still for a minute seeing stars as his knee screamed. Slowly he sat up wincing as he did so. Slowly he pushed himself upright nearly falling over, he let out a hissing breath as he put pressure on his knee. Limping he walked over to the wall leaning his hand against it he slowly hopped towards Snape's rooms swearing all along the way.

"First freaking voices, now this! He's going to kill me! Great this is just so bloody great!" he swore as he reached the door. He knocked quietly sweat beading on his forehead, his knee throbbed in time with his heart beat. Breathing heavily he rested his head against the cool castle wall. The door opened slowly and the potions master stepped out into the hall watching Harry with knowing eyes.

"What is it Potter?" he demanded in an aggravated tone of voice.

"Sorry to bother the beauty sleep I know you so desperately need, and I wouldn't have if Hermione hadn't made me." He said darkly pushing off the wall and limped to Snape. Snape narrowed his eyes.

"What did you do to your self this time!" He demanded hooking a hand and pulling Harry closer to the light that was shining brightly from within his rooms. Harry growled narrowing his eyes.

"What did I....I didn't do anything! I didn't ask for some freaking psychopath to be after me! I didn't ask for Ron to suddenly start hating my guts!" Harry shouted. Snape slapped his hand over the teen's mouth and hauled him into the room the door closing by its self. Gentler he pushed Harry down into one of the chairs releasing his mouth.

"And I sure as hell didn't ask for you to be my guardian! I'm sure you'd love it if I just went and died! Would make everyone's life a whole lot easier! Maybe Voldemort and Dumbledore can have a nice cup of tea and a heart to heart!" Harry continued to shout. Snape watched him closely folding his arms as Harry panted.

"Are you done yet?" he questioned the teen.

"No! I am not done! I am so freaking tired of not being able to sleep because I have to plan some sort of way to defend against an attack by death eaters! I'm sick of having to look behind my back on my own because I never know if someone is around wanting to kill me! What the hell did I do to them besides being born!" Harry said now screaming he moved to stand but Snape whipped out his wand.

"Enough!" He commanded. Harry glared at him, the light casting deep circles beneath Harry's eyes. For several minutes the two stared at each other, both sizing up the other figuring out what it was they wanted to happen. Snape finally lowered his wand. "So...I take it Mr. Weasley has yet to mature?" Harry swore rapidly and leaned back in the chair.

"That isn't the point." He snapped.

"Then what pray tell is the point Mr. Potter beyond a normal teenage temper tantrum." Snape said. Harry opened his mouth to shout at him but Snape stopped him raising a finger.

"Now is not the time to discuss this I think." Snape said sighing as he walked out of the room. Harry groaned, great just great Harry blow up in front of Snape and he'll think something is actually wrong. He leaned down rubbing his temples trying to strain his ears to hear what Snape was doing in whatever room he had wandered off to. Within a matter of minutes Snape was back with a steaming tea cup in his hands. He knelt in front of Harry a scowl on his face.

"I want you to drink that entire cup Potter, you are spending the night here." Snape declared in a tone that commanded absolute obedience. Harry groaned and took a sip almost spitting it out.

"What the hell is this!" he demanded. Snape stood towering above him.

"No lip Potter, drink it all or so help me there will be a repeat of the events that occurred during this summer when you refused to drink." He snarled. Harry paled and quickly took another sip. He watched as Snape again left the room, sighing he glared at the cup.

"Gee thanks Hermione this is just what I need, a real stress reliever." He said hotly. Growling he drank more of whatever disgusting liquid Snape had put in the tea cup.

"Potter! I expect that cup empty by the time I walk back in there!" Snape called out. Harry growled as he downed the entire cup shuddering at the taste. Setting the cup on the floor he leaned his head back closing his eyes. Where the hell was that voice coming from? It could've been one of the near by paintings playing a trick or heck even Peeves playing one of his many pranks. Footsteps caused him to open his eyes, only slightly, Snape was watching him with measuring eyes, which annoyed Harry extremely.

"What is it?" he snapped, honestly he didn't care what Snape did to him anymore, he was sick of being walked all over. Snape walked over and pulled Harry to his feet, cupping his arm so that he wouldn't fall as he was led limping into one of the other rooms.

"As I stated you will be staying here tonight." Snape repeated and pushed Harry onto a bed in the room. Harry stared at him.

"Yeah I get that, staying here whatever." He said moving to pull his shoes off. Snape grabbed his wrists and pulled them away.

"No Harry I do not think you do get it." Snape said frowning at him. He pulled Harry's shoes off himself then he stood. "I expect you to come to me, even if it is something you feel isn't necessary."

"Sir...I asked before, and I would really like to know what happened to my Aunt, Uncle and cousin." Harry said, his eyes taking their usual haunted look. Snape sighed.

"Your cousin is alive and everyday growing stronger. They are in protected custody of some very powerful Aurors. Though why we are even bothering to do so when your Uncle keeps wandering off all the time." Snape said clearly disgusted that they were doing anything to help the Dursley's.

"Can I see them?" Harry asked shocking Snape. The man blinked several minutes.

"You expect me to allow you anywhere near the man who beat you this summer? Why would I!" Snape said.

"Yes I do. Because despite the way they have treated me Professor they are my family. And my mother wouldn't want them to be harmed." Harry said staring at Snape, Snape rolled his eyes.

"Save me the ridiculous Gryffindor trait Potter, though that seems to be the only one you posses of your house." Snape said.

"Yeah well that's cause Gryffindor is the second choice for the Sorting hat." Harry admitted. Snape raised an eyebrow.

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"And the other house it wanted you to be put into?" he asked.

"I don't think I want to tell you." Harry said eyeing Snape wearily. Snape leaned forward his face barely a breath away from Harry's. "Slytherin."

"What!" Snape shouted snapping upright. He stared down at Harry. Harry Potter, son of James Potter was supposed to be a Slytherin! It made prefect since, he thought as he watched Harry.

"What's the big deal?" Harry growled. Snape took a deep breath, now was not the time to rile the boy back up, now was time to strangle him till he passed out so he would actually sleep!

"Nothing Potter, now shut your eyes and go to sleep." Snape said heading for the door. Harry slumped back hissing slightly as he jarred his knee. His shoulder burned slightly as well, probably from the fall. His eyes slowly closed.

Snape watched from the doorway, waiting until he was sure Harry was actually in a deep enough sleep, silent as death itself he crept over and rolled up Harry's pant leg. Once more the knee was already swelling. "Well Potter I dare say you will not be on the Quddittch team this year." He said sighing, he knew there would be one hell of a argument with the teen on that matter. Rubbing his temples he stood to get some supplies, he would do what he could do while the boy was asleep with luck the knee would heal itself sooner than he thought it would...

A flash of green light clouded Harry's mind and screams echoed only they weren't the screams of his mother this time...they were the screams of those he knew at Hogwarts. "No!" He screamed as the green light vanished showing him what was left of Hogwarts He stared walking...he could make out the bodies of all his classmates. He continued walking till he saw a form come from the mist the man wore green his eyes twinkled. He raised his hand in greeting and as he did so the blood and bodies vanished a moment later Harry was standing inside a room he didn't recognize. The man walked forward his hair was slightly graying.

"Hello Harry." He said though there wasn't a sound from his mouth. Frowning Harry backed up a step.

"Who are you! What was that!" Harry said cautiously. The man smiled even more.

"Never mind me right now my young Slytherin. That was what could be should you choose the wrong path." He said stepping closer to Harry.

"What do you mean wrong path, did Voldemort do all that?" he asked.

"No..." The man said his smile vanishing. "You did."