Scarlet Pain

A/N: Okay. Once again, I\'m really really sorry this took me so long. Now that I\'ve gotten back
into the swing of things at school I\'m hoping to update more regularly. But considering I said
the last few times.... Anyways, very sorry.

Really Random Question 1: Do people want me to put all the info of the story (like summary,
disclaimers, ratings, etd) at the beginning of each chapter, or even just in Chapter One?

RRQ2: Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can fix this formatting problem?

Anyways, I\'ve been working on chapter titles and the like. I know the chapters are kind of short,
but I just can\'t leave them without titles... *shrugs* Thanks to all my readers for the really
wonderful and encouraging comments. And to clear up a potentially confusing part of the story
so far, YES, the ghosts do have a purpose.

Sarah/Read300300: (I\'m hoping you are the same person...you had the same email
address so I\'m just guessing). Thanks for your really helpful review. I\'m glad I could give your
head a spin (I think) *evil grin* Anyways, you really saw what I was trying to do, but I didn\'t know
if it was coming off the way I wanted it to until I got your comments.

Sara: I\'m sorry but in the spirit of trying to remain in character, Snape is going to continue
to be a bastard, but don\'t worry, not for too long *begs forgiveness*. I don\'t think he would do a
complete 180 so fast, but I hope this chapter helps. Also, sorry for the ghost confusion. Hopefully
things will be a bit clearer in the net few chapters.

aewnaur: Thanks for the feedback, I\'m glad you saw what I was trying to do with Snape. I\'m
glad it\'s clear that while he can be extremely insightful if he chooses (he is a spy after all) that he is
not perfect in that area by any stretch.

mirestelfea: Don\'t worry, even if it takes me some time, I will finish this story. I even have it
mostly outlined.
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Scarlet Pain
Chapter Thirteen

Draco stared out the Astronomy Tower window, a small smile playing at his lips. Things were working
out well, and at ths rate, he would find the redemption he needed in order to prosper in the world.
Well, at least after the Dark Lord was gone. All Po - no, it seemed more appropriate to call him Harry
now - all Harry had to do was defeat old Voldie, and maybe find some help of his own. Draco\'s smile
dissapeared, replaced by a small frown. He really needed to talk to Severus about his temper. Harry
was strong, but he was showing signs, and Draco was even more worried about the
Boy-Who-Refused-To-Just-Die than even a day ago. This new change of attitude bordered on denial,
hell it was denial. Denial that he needed help and the foolishly Gryffindor thought that he could
somehow handle his own problems.

The blonde sighed and stared down at his wrists. Scars had formed where he had cut himself and
surprisingly enough, none were new. What he\'d told Harry had been true, he hadn\'t had the time,
even if he\'d wanted to. Which right now he did. Clenching his hands till his nails dug into his palms,
Draco let out a shaky breath before stalking out of the tower in usual Malfoyish fashion.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry knocked on the door to Snape\'s office, all emotion buried underneath his newfound determination
not to show weakness, or any other sign that might be construed as him needing help. At the sound of
the Professor\'s tired \"enter\" he slipped inside and closed the door.

\"You can sit down,\" Snape said stiffly. Harry only nodded and moved away from the door, though he
didn\'t sit. The Potions Master gave an inward sigh. This was not going well. Even without the headache
from that morning, Snape felt the exhaustion creeping up on him. \"Fine,\" he snapped. \"Remain standing.\"
When he failed to continue, Harry shifted uncomfortably.

\"Sir, if you would rather I can serve my detention with Filch.\" Snape\'s gaze shot to Harry\'s face, and the
determined calm that held his features. To say the Professor was shocked would have been an understatement.
The boy was willingly volunteering to serve detention with someone who was possibly as scary, if not more
so (at least in his threats) to Severus on a bad day?

\"And why, exactly, would you offer to do that?\" His voice sounded cold, even to himself. Harry looked away.

\"Because you seem tired,\" Harry\'s looked back up at him with a hard gaze. \"And I really don\'t feel
like being your verbal punching bag.\"

\"Excuse me?\" Snape\'s eyes narrowed dangerously.

\"With all due respect, sir,\" Harry faltered a bit before continuing. \"When you get tired and frustrated
you take it out on me, and I\'d rather not go through that right now.\"

If possible, the Potions Master\'s gaze hardened furthur, and he took a menacing step forward. Harry
stepped back, a flicker of alarm passed across his face before it was replaced by his once frequent mask
of indifference.

\"You, Mister Potter, will watch your tongue,\" Snape tried to reign in his anger. He knew he was being
unreasonable, and worst, reacting defensively because some part of what his student had said was true.
\"Furthermore, I will not apologize for putting you in line. It is not my job to coddle any of my students,
especially you, as I\'m sure you get enough of that already. If you think I was unusually harsh this
morning you can keep it to yourself. You are not better than everyone else, Potter, so do not think you
can waltz into my class late and not get a proper dressing down. Not even your father got away
with that in his classes.\" He bit back further comments, knowing instinctually that if he continued, he would
lose all hope of trying to fix the mess he had admittedly created for himself.

\"This is exactly what I\'m talking about Professor! You\'re angry or tired or whatever about something, and
all you can do is use me as a scapegoat because of something my father did!\" For a second Harry thought
he\'d really blown it when Snape\'s hands clenched into fists at his sides. When Severus raised his hand to
pinch the bridge of his nose, Harry gave an involuntary flinch and stepped back, a look of self-deprication
flashing across his features.

\"I think, Mr. Potter,\" Snape bit out painfully. \"That we have already covered the fact that I realize you are
not your father.\"

\"Then why\'d you bring him into this? You\'re so used to venting your frustration on me you don\'t even
think twice about that fact that I didn\'t even know him.\"

\"Silence.\" He did not yell, he did not glare. But Snape\'s voice had taken on a dangerously quiet tone that
had the young Gryffindor inwardly cowering (even if he refused to show it). But the Professor noticed, at least,
he saw how the boy\'s body had tensed subtly, hands white from grasping the desk behind him, the sharp
intake of breath. Severus felt something begin to crumble inside, yet pride refused to let him back down.
After a very tense few moments, he finally broke the silence.

\"Mr. Potter, this line of conversation is over. I suggest we turn to our previous discussion - \"

\"No, sir,\" Harry said quietly.

\"What?\"

\"I said,\" he continued a bit louder. \"No, sir. I would rather not discuss that. Frankly, I don\'t see how it
is any of your concern, though thanks for at least trying to care.\"

\"This is not up for discussion.\"

\"You\'re right. It\'s not. We\'re not discussing this. I will not talk to you about this right now.\"

\"You need help.\" Oops, not the right thing to say apparently.

\"I don\'t need help,\" he bit out stiffly. \"And if I did, you are not the first person I would turn to.\" His lie
was strangely obvious to both of them, though it confused Severus more than it did Harry.

\"Your Gryffindor pride will get you nowhere, Potter! These things cannot be ignored or it will eat you
alive. Trust me on this, I know.\" There was that word again. Trust. For some reason, Severus felt
an unexplainable pain at the thought that Harry may not fully trust him.

\"This is my choice Professor!\" Harry voice bordered on desperate. \"You promised you wouldn\'t
force me.\" His words dropped like stones down an abandoned well. For a second, neither said anything.
Severus felt more of his wall crumble.

\"I said as long you weren\'t in danger of harm, or a danger to others, I wouldn\'t.\"

\"I\'m not, sir. Either of those things! I\'m here and safe and fine. Just...let it go.\"

For a long moment, Snape gave Harry a piercing stare, then he nodded slowly and waved his hand toward
the door. \"You are dismissed. Don\'t forget, we will be using your detention time next week to begin
Occlumency.\"

\"Yes, sir.\" The Gryffindor paused at the door. \"Professor, I trust you with my life. Just, I don\'t think
I can trust you with me .\" Before Severus could answer, Harry dashed out of the room. Instead
of going straight to the Gryffindor Tower, he took the long route. By the time he reached to the common
room, his hands had finally stopped shaking and his heart was back to it\'s normal beat.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

No sooner had Harry left than Draco strolled in to the Professor\'s office, his Malfoy Glare of Disapproval
from earlier back in place. It faltered, however, when he saw the Potions Master slumped at his desk
staring blankly at some first years\' essays.

\"Don\'t even say it, Draco.\"

\"Why? Since you apparently still haven\'t gotten the point.\" Snape threw a glare at the blonde before
grabbing a quill and pointedly started his grading. \"Sev, you can\'t keep doing this. He\'s my only
chance and you\'re pushing him away!\"

\"And what about you, Draco. Other leaving his friends alone and meeting him up in the Tower for
touching little heart to hearts, what are you doing? How do you expect to help him when you
have admitted yourself that you have problems of your own.\" Draco took a step back like he\'d been
slapped.

\"It\'s not like you would understand anyways,\" he said, and turned to leave. The Potions Master\'s
voice stopped him.

\"Draco, I probably shouldn\'t have said that, but you have to admit I have a point. What are you
doing that\'s so special?\"

\"I already told you, Sev.,\" Draco sighed in exasperation. \"I\'m giving him someone to rescue, someone
that can show him he still has the ability to help people.\"

\"Who?\"

\"Who do you think?\"

\"You do realize then that you have to be willing to be saved.\" Draco almost bit out a cutting response,
but stopped himself. He found himself looking up at Severus\' serious face.

\"I know that Sev. Make no mistake, I\'m doing this for me. But I do want to get better.\" Snape nodded
then waved his hand toward the door.

\"Alright then, out with you. I\'ve had enough of all you brats running around, and I still have grading to
do.\" His words were sharp, though Draco could see the corners of the Potions Master\'s lips quirck upwards
in the attempts of a smile.


TBC