A Journey to the Past

*___Chapter 3- Injured...___*

Draco Malfoy woke up with a start to the sound of his wand buzzing. He checked the clock. 5am. Oh, damn, now he remembered why he had set his wand to wake him up early. He had to go see Professor Snape for help with his Potions essay. The professor would probably be up by now, he was an early riser.

Sighing, he got up and changed. His father wouldn't be too pleased when he finds out about the Potions test they had had the day before. He knew he not done very well. That Hermio... no, Granger was always getting the good marks. It wasn't fair. Draco hated admitting that the muggle, Gryffindor girl was better than him in everell the truth, he thought Granger was a likable person, but no, nobody was supposed to know that. The tradition stated that Slytherins and Gryffindors had to be enemies, and he, Draco, would not be the one to mess that up.

He walked down towards his Head of House's dungeon, his stomach rumbling. What was his first lesson again? Defence Against Dark Arts with the Gryffindors. Oh no, just his luck. Professor Lupin was... Suddenly, he heard a low, moaning sound coming from the corridor in front of him. What was that? He was just starting to think that it was his imagination when the sound came again. If seemed as if someone was in pain. He quickened his pace and walked around the corner. He stopped when he saw the crumpled heap on the floor. Hmm, red and black robes. A Gryffindor. What was a Gryffindor doing here, near the Slytherin Common Room?

"Hello?" Draco asked uncertainly. Was this figure even alive? What should he do? "Hello?"

Slowly, as if talking great efforts, the heap raised itself until the Slytherin could see the person's face. The colour drained from Draco's face and he gasped as those pain-filled emerald eyes met his blue ones. It was Potter.

**********

I do not know how long I lay there, but the next thing I remember was someone calling me.

"Hello?"

The voice sounded strangely familiar. Who was it? I tried to look up but was unable to. It felt as if all the energy had been drained from me.

"Hello?" The voice said again. I opened my eyes just a crack and saw the hems of a green robe. Oh no, a Slytherin. This was not good.

Judging by the light, it was past dawn. Well, I couldn't lie there forever. Time to face the music. With tremendous efforts, I slowly raised my head and squinted at the figure. I heard a gasp. It was then that I realized who it was. Malfoy. My worst enemy. Well, what was I to do now? It would be a day in hell before Draco Malfoy decided to help me. I closed my eyes, prepared myself for the laughing and teasing. But I didn't hear a sound. Finally, I raised my head again. Draco was still standing there, looking shocked. I looked around and saw myself surrounded in a puddle of blood. Darn, the bleeding must have continued. So that was why Draco was stunned. Well, I had to say something. I couldn't just lie there.

"G-Get a pro-professor, Draco. Any pro-professor."

**********

Draco stood there uselessly, stunned. Potter was covered in blood! Hell, what had happened to that boy?

Just then, Potter spoke. "G-Get a pro-professor, Draco. Any pro- professor."

Draco just looked at the heap on the floor. It took him a minute to register what Potter had said. He immediately rushed around the last corner and banged on the dungeon trap door. "Professor Snape! Help, Professor, it's an emergency!" He didn't know why he was doing this. Why should he care about what happened to Potter? It was none of his business. Yet, he knew he would find himself explaining about Harry when his teacher opened the door.

There was no answer from the room. Maybe Professor Snape was asleep after all. With as much energy as he could muster, he cried out one last time.

"Professor, it's Draco!!! HELP, please!"

*********

Severus was sitting at his desk, marking papers. Oh, what a tedious thing to do. He was about to give up when there was a sudden banging on his trapdoor. There was a muffled sound, but he couldn't tell who was yelling.

He was getting up and going towards the entrance when the voice called out again. The banging was as loud as ever.

"Professor, it's Draco!!! HELP, please!" The voice was getting desperate, rising both in volume and intensity.

Draco Malfoy. What could have happened for the boy to come yelling at 5 in the morning? He sighed as he yanked opened the door. The Slytherin boy fell into the room. After Severus managed to calm him down, Draco led him to the heap on the floor.

Severus tried unsuccessfully to stifle a gasp. The undignified pile was surrounded by a puddle of blood. He was concerned by how much blood the person had lost. But first, he had to find out who it was. Gently, he reached down and lifted the person by their shoulders. He took one look at the face and gasped again. Harry Potter.

********

Harry was vaguely aware of Draco leaving. A few minutes later, the sound of two pairs of footsteps echoed in the hall. He heard Malfoy talking."

"He's here, sir, and he's injured..."

"Calm down, Draco." A cold, unconcerned voice said. Oh great, it was Snape. "And who are you talking about?"

Harry heard the gasp as Snape saw him. Saw his Potions professor's startled black eyes. Oh well, now, he was in trouble. Not that it mattered. He suddenly felt dizzy again. He tried to keep awake, but he was tired. He fell asleep once more.

*******

Severus couldn't believe it. It was Harry Potter. The boy whom he always thought of as strong, determined and full of dignity. Yet here was the Gryffindor now, lying helpless on the ground. He had to help him.

Severus reached down and carefully removed the boy's cloak. Harry moaned softly. The professor continued with what he was doing. Soon, the Gryffindor's garments had been removed.

Oh God, what had happened to the child? His back was covered with welts and scars, many made recently, judging by the colour. He heard Draco gasp beside him. Not that he disagreed with the Slytherin, he wanted to throw up himself at the sight.

Severus reached down and touched the boy softly, but Harry flinched away. He was once again reminded of the pain-filled emerald eyes he had seen that day when Harry came off of the Hogwarts Express. He hadn't really paid any attention to it, until now. What could have caused such pain, such... despair? Could the Dursleys have been beating this boy? This was a possibility, seeing to the fact that his parents had constantly beat him when he was young. Severus knew how it felt to be... abused. He understood the pain this boy was going through, could remember the sting of the whip as if it had happened yesterday.

He physically shook himself. No, this wasn't the time to breakdown. He would not show his weakness to his students-- especially to his students. Besides, Potter needed help immediately. He picked up the boy carefully and ran towards the Hospital Wing, Draco at his heels.

********

Draco let out a startled gasp when his professor removed Potter's shirt. God, it was stunning. The boy's back was covered with welts, most were still bleeding... Yes, his father had beat him before, but never in such a way. He felt shocked that the famous Boy-Who-Lived led such a life. 'How could Potter have managed to live through this?' he wondered to himself. 'How could he bear to keep all his... feelings, all his anger and despair inside him?'

For the first time, it occurred to him that Potter was not just any boy. The boy was not hiding behind his cloak of fame as others may have done. Instead, he earned this life with his knowledge, wisdom, and wits. Draco also knew that he, himself would not have been able to lead the life that Potter led. He did not have such courage and determination, such wisdom that the Gryffindor had.

Suddenly, Draco realized that the emotion he had buried inside himself was sympathy, longing and regret. He felt sorry for the boy, and longed to befriend him. He wanted to become a friend, a person this boy could rely on. He regretted all he had done to him, all the trouble he had caused him. Yet how could this Gryffindor be his friend? How could Harry forgive the enemy he had known since the first time they had set eyes on each other?

Just then, Professor Snape stood up, scooped Harry into his arms, and took of towards the Hospital Wing. Draco followed, surprised by the gentleness the man showed. As he caught Severus' worried eyes, he was even more stunned to see the pain in those dark black eyes. Professor Snape, caring about Harry Potter? Unbelievable. Yet there was no doubting the situation as the teacher hurried on, Draco running at his heals. They soon reached the hospital wing.

*********

Severus gently place the injured boy on the bed. Madam Pomfrey ran into the room.

"Hello, professor, what's..." She stopped as she spotted Harry. The tray in her hands dropped to the floor with a clang. "Oh my..." She immediately began to treat Harry with various sorts of medical potions.

Half an hour later, Severus stood up. He eyed the weary nurse and said, "So, what's wrong with him? What happened?" Oh damn, couldn't hide the concern in his voice. No, he wasn't SUPPOSED to be worrying over a Gryffindor boy...

Madam Pomfrey looked up at him, her eyes full of tears. "I-I'm afraid, Professor, that he has a very small chance of... surviving."

*******************************************

*___Chapter 4- Midnight Visits___*

Severus stood and gaped at Madam Pomfrey. Her voice echoed around the room.

"I-I'm afraid, Professor, that he has a very small chance of... surviving."

No, it couldn't be. His ears had to be deceiving him... Harry, dieing? Impossible, he couldn't imagine... But judging by the tears in the nurse's eyes, it was true. He tried to keep his face emotionless, but failed. No, he couldn't let Draco and Pomfrey see his distress... He had to get out of there...

With a sweep of his cloak, Severus glided out the door, leaving a gaping Draco behind.

**************

"I-I'm afraid, Professor, that he has a very small chance of... surviving."

My eyes filled with tears as I heard myself utter those fatal words... Oh, Harry was such a sweet child, he couldn't die... I had to save him, had to, just had to...

But my distress was nothing compared to the pained look on the professor's face. Could it be? Could Professor Snape actually be worried about Harry Potter? The icy, stone-cold Potions Master? Was it possible?

Before I could sort out my stream of thoughts, Snape gathered his robes and swept majestically out of the room without another word. Draco stared at him for a minute, then followed.

I looked at the sleeping figure lying on the bed. Sighing, I went to prepare some healing draught for him.

**************

Severus sat in his desk, ignoring the pile of test papers that required his attention. He was trying to sort out the hailstorm of emotions whirling inside him. Why did he even care about Potter? It was none of his business, why should it concern him? Yet when he had seen the boy lying so helplessly on the floor, something inside him had snapped. He had forgotten that the boy was his most hated student. Instead, he had picked the almost lifeless figure up and dashed as fast as he could towards the Hospital Wing. And when Pomfrey had said that the Gryffindor's life was in danger, he had felt... no, he couldn't even begin to explain that feeling. His emotions were uncontrollable at the moment... His heart was filled with pity for the child, but as soon as he tried to sort out that feeling, the pity became anger, flaring through his body. Anger towards the person who had abused Harry, anger at himself for being so vulnerable and showing his feelings... He felt sympathy, rage, sorrow, despair, all that and more... so many emotions that he couldn't even begin to unravel...

He got up and walked into the bathroom. After splashing his face with icy water, Severus came back out again, feeling just a little calmer.

There was a sudden knock on the door and Albus' voice rang clearly through the air. "Severus, could I come in for a while?"

Oh no, not now, not when he needed to be alone... But did he have any choice? Sighing, he replied, "Come in."

As Dumbledore entered the room, Severus tried to wipe all the anxiety from his face. Instead, he replaced it with a mask of cold neutrality, the look in with so many students feared of.

Apparently, the Headmaster was not fooled. The second he entered, Albus knew from the glint in Severus' eyes that the Potions Master was trying to hide something. And from what he had heard, it wasn't hard to guess just exactly what he was trying to hide.

"Severus," Albus said, his voice soft but firm. "What happened to Harry? From what Madam Pomfrey has informed me of, you were the one who took him to the Hospital Wing."

'Damn that Pomfrey,' Severus thought to himself before answering Dumbledore's question. He told the Headmaster about how Draco had found Harry and of how he himself had brought he injured boy to the Hospital Wing.

"What condition was Harry in when you found him?" Dumbledore asked, his voice tainted with concern.

"Hell, Albus, the boy was covered in a pool of blood! There were welts all over his back and arms..." At this, Albus turned away, but Severus continued, "The Dursleys must have done it to him! Did you send someone to check out what kind of people they were before you sent Har--I meant, Potter to them?"

Dumbledore smiled slightly at Severus' stuttering. "No, as a matter of a fact, I havn't, considering the circumstances. They can't be that bad though, can they? After all, they are related to---"

"God, Albus, no one, and I repeat, NO ONE, other that Voldemort, deserves to be treated like that!" Severus interrupted, his eyes flashing dangerously. "You should have seen that look he gave me when I found him..." He trailed off, realizing what he had just said. He had ADMITTED that he cared for the Gryffindor. Oh, God, he hated himself, why did he just breakdown like that? He'ld never hear the end of it now...

Dumbedore smiled again. So, this icy-cold Potions Master did care after all. From what Albus had gathered from their little 'talks', Severus cared quite deeply for the Boy-Who-Lived. The man just didn't realize it yet. He was as stubborn as a mule sometimes... instead of showing any caringness, he terrified his students with a constant threat of detention. Not that Albus blamed the students; Severus' icy glare could make a troll run for the mountains...

"I'll see about the Dursleys," the Headmaster said, standing up abruptly. "You might want to go to the Hospital Wing later," Albus' face darkened slightly. "Harry's in a rather... fatal condition at the moment."

With that, Dumbledore walked out of the room, his cloak swishing behind him. He left Severus to gather his thoughts and emotions.

**************

The clock rang twelve times. Midnight. Draco Malfoy flung his cloak over his shoulders and ran towards the Hospital Wing, praying that he wouldn't meet Filch of Mrs. Norris. He had quite enough on his mind at the moment, thank you very much.

He wasn't even quite sure why he was going to the Hospital Wing in the first place. He was risking detention and House Points, or even worst, expulsion. But it seemed as if some invisible power was leading him. He had a feeling in his heart that he had to go see Potter, had to make sure that the boy was actually lying in bed, safe and sound before he could actually sleep himself.

He turned the corner and silently pulled open the door to the Hospital Wing. He shut the door behind him and slid into a chair. Draco looked around and there he was. Harry lay in one of the beds, fast asleep. His scar seemed to blaze in the moonlight.

Suddenly, Harry began to fidget in his sleep. He began to murmur though what he was saying, Draco did not know.

"Must be having a nightmare," the Slytherin thought. What he heard next though, almost made him drop his cloak.

"No," Harry muttered uneasily.

"Not there, no, Draco, not there, he'll kill you! Please Draco, please!" The Gryffindor's voice was rising in intensity and sweat was pouring down his face. Draco looked around in uneasy surprise. Potter was dreaming about him?

Harry's murmuring stopped as suddenly as it started. Draco waited another hour, hoping to hear more, but to no avail. The nightmare was obviously gone.

The Slytherin was about to leave when suddenly, he heard a creaking sound outside the door. 'Who could it be?' He wondered to himself. 'Not, Pomfrey, she wouldn't come in the middle of the night...' The sound was getting steadily louder. Had to hide, had to hide... Draco looked around frantically, then crawled silently into the only hiding place he could find: under Potter's bed. Draco peered out from under the bed, watching quietly.

The door to the Hospital Wing creaked open, and the Slytherin boy nearly gasped in shock. It was not the nurse, not Granger or Weasley, not even Dumbledore. It was Professor Snape, his Head of House. The teacher slid into the room, as quiet as a shadow. He sat down in a chair and gazed at Harry, just like Draco had done minutes earlier.

To Draco's surprise, his teacher's face was filled with pain and sorrow. The professor's eyes, dark as night, flashed in the moonlight.

"I'm sorry, Harry," Professor Snape whispered. "I'm sorry I was so... horrible to you. Forgive me." The teacher walked forward and gripped Harry's hand. "Live on, Harry. Live on, the world depends on you."

With that, the Potions Master glided smoothly out of the room, shutting the door silently after him. Draco waited a few minutes, then followed.

**************

Harry lay on the bed, his eyes open a mere crack. He was in the Hospital Wing, and creaking sounds outside the door had woken him up. There it was again. Creak. Creak, creak. The door opened silently as a dark shadow slid into the room. Harry unconsciously gripped his wand tighter, squinting into the darkness, trying to see who it was. His glasses was on the night table, but he, pretending to be asleep, could not move. Who was it? Madam Pomfrey? No, this person was about a head taller than the nurse.

The shadow settled down in one of the chairs. Harry tried to breath evenly, so not to give himself away.

Suddenly, the shadow got up and headed towards the bed. It got closer and closer, then stopped. It leaned over and looked at him.

"I'm sorry, Harry," a strangely familiar voice whispered. "I'm sorry I was so... horrible to you. Forgive me." The shadow walked forward and gripped Harry's hand. "Live on, Harry. Live on, the world depends on you." Then, it whirled around and headed towards the door.

Just then, the moonlight streaming into the room shone onto the shadow. Harry almost fell off the bed when he saw who it was. Long, black hair and icy, dark eyes. Professor Snape. The teacher walked out of the room, the door shutting silently behind him.

Harry gaped in shock. Snape had come to see him? Impossible. He'll think about it tomorrow, one o'clock in the morning just wasn't the time to be thinking about such things. He smiled to himself. "I will, professor," his whisper was almost inaudible. "Don't worry, I will live on." Fatigue overtook him and he feel asleep once again. If he had stayed awake just a little longer, he would have seen Draco Malfoy glide silently out of the room.

*___End of Chapter 4___*