Running From Yourself

Ever have one of those days when the second you open your eyes you know it's going to be a bad day, a really bad day. Well guess how my day started. For one I had a headache, a horrible headache, not only that but my entire body hurt.

"Harry. Come on you lazy git, if you don't wake up soon you'll be late for breakfast." Ron yelled at my drawn curtains.

"I'll be up in a minute, I don't feel that well." I growled.

"You sound awful, maybe you should go to the infirmary." Ron sounded concerned.

"I'm not that sick. I'll make it to class, don't worry." I answered before burying my head under the pillow.

I heard Ron open the drapes and pat me on the shoulder. "I'll see you then Harry."

I fell asleep like that and didn't get up until I was absolutely positive that there was no way I was going to make my first class. Well considering that I was going to get detention anyways I figured I might as well take a shower and skip it altogether.

Even my shower didn't go well, my hair felt like it had stuck itself to my head. I had to wash my hair at least three times before I got whatever gunk was in it out. I didn't even bother looking in the mirror, on a day like this I knew I'd look awful.

After getting dressed in robes that didn't seem to fit anymore, I went to grab my wand. Of course I couldn't find it. I looked everywhere; I even looked under Ron's bed. How could I have possibly lost my wand? It's always on me.

I eventually gave up and decided to head down to class, hoping that I wouldn't need my wand today. The common room was empty, indicating that everybody had left for classes already. I knew that I'd make my second class, Potions, just on time if I ran.

As I started down the hall I saw someone dart out from behind a suit of armor and dash down the corridor. I called out for him but he didn't respond. Didn't he hear me? I chased after him but when I reached the end of the hall he was no where to be seen.

To say the least I was late for potions and my head was still killing me. Snape glared at me when I came in but didn't say anything for which I was grateful. Maybe I looked worse than I thought. The only seats left were with the Slytherins.

After class I tried to catch up with Ron and Hermione but they seemed upset with me, for what I wasn't sure. Hermione probably since I skipped class.

I decided not to go to lunch. Even though I had missed breakfast I wasn't hungry. I made my way up to the dorms to take a nap and hopefully feel better again. I'd get a note from Madame Pomfrey tomorrow telling my teachers that I hadn't been feeling well. But I figured my headache would go away with a nap. I drew the curtains around me and settled into sleep.

"Harry, how are you feeling?" Ron sounded worried when he came to check on me a couple of hours later.

"Just tired," I mumbled into my pillow.

"I'll let you sleep then, but promise when you wake up that you'll go see the nurse."

"Thanks."

I woke up right before dinner and was glad not to have to deal with much except for a couple of giggling first years who stared at me as I made my way through the common room. I walked down to the Great Hall feeling slightly more refreshed but decided that I'd rather not stay around all those people. I grabbed an apple from the nearest table and nodded at Ron and Hermione.

As I left the Great Hall, I again saw what appeared to be the same person running down the corridors. I still hadn't gotten a good look at him. I followed, but as before, he seemingly disappeared. I left the building and decided to eat my apple by the lake.

While I was there, the mysterious person ran across the field. I decided that this was getting ridiculous so I took off after him. He disappeared into the broom shed by the Quidditch pitch. As I walked into the room the door swung shut behind me. I couldn't see anything in the darkness. There wasn't anything, not really even a sound; though if you listened close enough you could hear the school brooms rustling.

"Hello? Is anybody in here?" I asked, suddenly unsure of my own voice. I almost expected my words to echo, but they seemed to be swallowed by the darkness. I wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible and walked back to the door. I took a quick look around to make sure that I hadn't missed him. I figured he must not have gone in here. When I got outside, I took a deep breath of the fresh air. Remembering that the door was supposed to be kept closed I turned around.

I think my heart stopped. He was standing right in front of me. I tried to remember how to breathe but it was difficult. I was too captivated by his eyes. I knew those eyes, as well as I knew my own. I knew those eyes because they were my own.

I took a couple of steps back. He... I just kept standing there. He was smiling, but I didn't trust that smile. I'd seen ones similar to it, but never on my own face. I'd tried before smirking like Malfoy or giving evil stares like Snape. But it always looked stupid on my face. But it was my face, and it was grinning in a fashion that would've made Voldemort shudder in fear.

I turned and ran. If I had been feeling more like a Gryffindor, I might've told my doppelganger that it wasn't a very funny joke. But I was terrified. I also suddenly liked Colin Creevey more than I ever had. He might hound me and take pictures but he never wanted to be me.

I ran towards Hogwarts, I occasionally looked back to make sure he was still back at the broom shed. I had to get to Dumbledore. He would know what to do.

"Nobody can save you now"

I swung my head around to look for the source of the voice. In my distraction I tripped and fell. I heard laughter. I looked up and saw him standing there in front of me smirking. His eyes were twinkling with something I certainly didn't even want to recognize. Sad thing was, I did. I scrambled to my feet as fast as I could and ran in the opposite direction.

I had seen that look before, on only one person though. On Tom Riddle when he had decided he was going to kill me. Voldemort didn't have enough human left in him by the time I faced him to even feel the amount of hatred needed.

I ran towards the forest, it might not be the safest of places, but it certainly had plenty of hiding places. I could wait until night and then use the darkness to convey me safely to Hogwarts. Maybe Ron or Hermione would notice my absence and send out a search party for me.

"The forest can't help you; your friends can't help you."

I had just entered the forest when I heard that. I looked around for the source but still couldn't see anyone. I couldn't spend too much time looking, I had to hide.

"Wouldn't it be funny if they could see the Golden Boy now?

I tried moving deeper into the forest, to get away from the doppelganger and his disembodied voice.

"Running in fear from himself."

How could I be running from myself? I know me. I also know that there can only be one of me. I just wish the other me didn't want to be the only one.

"How can you be afraid of yourself?"

I'm not afraid of me, I'm afraid of you.

"You wouldn't hurt yourself, now would you?"

No I wouldn't hurt myself. Never, I'm in Gryffindor for a reason.

"Poor little Potter, he's so scared. Bet he just wishes he had the Weasel and the Mudblood."

Malfoy! That sick, twisted, demented person is Malfoy? I can't believe I ever felt he was harmless. If he kills me, they'll know it's him. There's no way he can escape.

"But where are they, one has to ask? I mean you've been gone for hours now. Surely they'd be looking for you now?"

He must've set them off somehow by pretending to be me. Oh god, maybe he truly wants to be me. Maybe he plans to take my place. I haven't seen him all day today. What if his father said he was withdrawing him from school? They're my best friends though. They'll know it's not me. Oh god, how I hope they know it's not me.

I have to make a break for it. I have to get back to school. I have to warn someone. I start running towards the castle. But every time I get near the castle he's there again. He's making sure I don't get there. He'll curse me if I get too near to him. He must have taken my wand so I would be defenseless.

I start running towards the lake. I can swim across the lake into Hogsmeade. For a moment I can see him pointing his wand at me cursing me. I can even see my own body falling into the water below. If I'm already in the water then he can't see me, so he can't curse me. I run down to the docks and jump off the end of them. For a moment I struggle out of my heavy robes.

Oh god, I can't remember how to swim. "HELP ME! SOMEBODY HELP ME!" I'm screaming and struggling in the water.

"Nobody will find your body."

I don't have any more energy left and I feel myself slipping under the water. I look up at him expecting to see triumph in his eyes but I see nothing, he just shakes his head and walks away. He's not even going to watch me die.

For some reason, I feel oddly calm as I sink deeper into the water. I can see the weeds floating lazily in the stagnant water. It's almost beautiful. I see a light far off, I turn my head and notice something in the water off to my side.

What's he doing here? Has he come to rescue me? Is it too late already? I make some effort in my tired limbs to make my way towards him. He just seems to be floating there. I weakly grab at his hand and immediately let go in horror. It was almost slimy. I push his head so he's facing me. His eyes are open and blank. He's dead.

Harry Potter is dead.

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