Rains of Insanity

He loved the rain. It relaxed him. the sound of it hitting the ground, the roof, and even the windows was hypnotizing.

He was glad it was raining that day. It had been one year since Snape killed Albus. He sank deeper into depression as he thought about that night. He didn't think someone as sweet (yes sweet) as Severus could do something so terrible.

He saw past Snape's snide remarks and bat-like posture, and saw a sweet man who had a bad past. He smiled dreamily as the thought of seeing Severus smile a true smile, not that he actually had yet.

His smile quickly turned to confusion when he focused out the window again. It was dark, so he could only see it like a shadow. There was a man sitting by the lake. He was sitting so still and silent he could be mistaken for a rock. He knew right away who it was.

He wanted to run out there and see for himself if he was actually right. He thought again about getting sick from the rain. He hesitated only a second on that though, then flew down the stairs. He ran outside and to the lake. He froze, panicked look on his face. 'He was just here,' he thought. But after looking around he confirmed the man was gone.

"Harry!" a stern voice called out to him from the door of the castle. Minerva McGonagall ran to him with a blanket and wrapped it around him. "You know you can't be out in the rain. You are still so weak a simple cold will kill you..."

"But I saw him," Harry said, still staring at the spot he thought he saw the figure. "He was here. I know it was him. I saw him. Right here."

"Harry, you're rambling. Your mental state is sensitive as well; you're seeing things. I'll call St Mungo's tomorrow. Let's get you inside for now-"

Harry turned sharply to him former professor. "You don't believe me, do you?" His eyes flashed dangerously. "You didn't see him so you think I've gone crazy and I'm seeing things."

"Inside, Harry. Now. We'll talk about this there." She started moving Harry away from the lake and into the castle. Harry looked over his shoulder, but still the man was nowhere in sight.

Inside, McGonagall led him to the Hospital Wing. Fear started to take control of Harry's body; he shook and his feet stopped him outside the door. "Let's go, Harry."

Harry shook his head frantically. "Up," he said, looking up.

"Up? Up to where?"

"Tower," he whispered.

"Why would you want to go up there?" Minerva gave him a strange look.

"That's where I saw him."

Minerva started to worry again about Harry's mental state, but agreed anyway. "OK. Do you mind if I go with you?"

The students were given the year off because of the war; only harry and a few professors had returned. Why Harry had returned, no one know.

Harry shrugged. "If you want. I don't mind company." With that he started up the stairs, Minerva followed curiously.

Harry sat at the same window thinking about what anniversary it was. Minerva's voice broke into his thoughts.

"You like the rain, don;t you?" Her voice was not as cold as her teaching voice.

Harry shook his head. "No. I love it. I want to be in it right now." His voice sounded distant, and his eyes were unblinking.

"What's wrong?"

"I miss him. I want to see him again."

"We all miss him. But there's nothing we can do about it now. He's gone. Is that why you were at the lake?"

Harry shrugged. "I thought I saw him. He might have been visiting the grave. It was dark. I couldn't see very well. It could have been the shadow of anything. I'm tired too, so that could've been it..." He spoke more to himself than to Minerva, but she heard every word.

"Shadow?" Harry faced her and nodded. "You mean you didn't see a ghost?"

"Only if there are dark ghosts, which I've never heard of. No, it was a solid figure. Why?" Harry noticed the worried look again.

"Tell me, and be honest, who you thought you saw at the lake," she said slowly.

"Severus Snape."