Harry Potter bit his lip until it bled.

Severus Snape flicked his wand and the wound healed itself, the blood disappearing from the boy's teeth.

Harry Potter clenched his fist until the nails bit into his palms and bled.

Severus Snape swirled his wand and sealed the crescent shaped marks.

Harry Potter scratched his thumb with an index nail until it was raw and a layer of skin had been scrapped off.

Severus Snape discovered it and healed it with a tap of a wand.

- - -

Dumbledore sat at his desk, head in his hands, weary to the bone. Harry Potter had been cutting and for how long was a mystery to the old man. As soon as he had discovered the problem, the Headmaster had instructed Harry to see Severus Snape - the only other person Dumbledore knew could deal with this kind of problem

There had been conditions. Harry refused to stay in a room with the potions master... and Albus had been forced to bind the boy in the room for his own well being. Guilt ate through his resolve, but Severus Snape refused to give up on the boy.

They were together in a lower room of the dungeons. Albus did not know how long they would have to stay like that, but he knew that neither he nor the Slytherin Head of House would give up until Harry Potter was better.

A long road lay before them all.