Disclaimer – Isn’t mine.

Harry Potter and the Darkness Within.

Chapter 1 – Learning.

Harry lowered his wand with a smile. He had finally got it right, the spell he had been practicing for more than a week. Soon Tom Riddle would be no more. The smile dropped momentarily as he magically dug a hole and buried the rabbit he had killed with the spell before turning reluctantly back towards the castle.

It was getting late and the shadows were lengthening as he walked through the Forbidden Forest towards the castle. It was May, the end of Harry’s sixth year and in little more than a week he would be heading back for another long, arduous summer with the Dursleys.

Voldemort had once again made his yearly appearance, luring Harry to Hogsmeade a month ago after Theodore Nott and Pansy Parkinson kidnapped Ron and sent Harry a letter. The lessons from the previous year were forgotten as Harry immediately headed for the local village, not realising that most of the DA were following him.

Ron had been rescued, Voldemort had once again been bettered, but several members had been injured and Seamus and Dean had both died.

Harry had felt so guilty he hadn’t spoken for a week. He couldn’t believe he had done it again. His Gryffindor idiocy had once again taken another innocents life and as the year before Harry swore it wouldn’t happen again.

The only difference was this year he actually did something about it. He spent every night in the restricted section of the Library. He stopped going to classes, instead practicing in the Room of Requirement or the Forbidden Forest when he wanted space. He taught himself Occlumency, only knowing that he had succeeded when Snape caught him in the Library a week later.

Flashback

‘Bloody hell,’ Harry swore, lifting his wand slightly to enable him to read the tiny script on the ancient tome before him. He was curled up in a corner of the restricted section surrounded by books, the light from his wand shielded by a handy spell he had learnt the second night. ‘How on earth can you send both spells at once? You can’t say them at the same time.’ He muttered.

‘I think you’ll find, Potter, you are supposed to think them, not say them.’ Drawled a silky voice from in front of him.

Harry started, dropping his wand leaping to his feet, the tome landing on the floor with a thud. ‘Professor Snape.’ Harry breathed. Damn, now he was in for it.

‘Mr Potter.’ The potions master sneered. ‘Might I enquire as to why you are not tucked up safely in your tower with the rest of your dim-witted friends? Is this another of the little jaunts required to keep your reputation intact, or is there a purpose for your sitting on a cold stone floor in the middle of the night, defiling expensive books by dropping them on the floor?’

Harry gaped, his mouth opening and closing several times. ‘P..professor Snape.’ Harry stammered and Snape arched one elegant black eyebrow.

‘Really, Potter, surely you can come up with a better response than that.’ The older man scoffed. ‘Due to your habitual absence over these last weeks I find myself almost, dare I say it, missing your defiant glare and ready answer.’

Harry bowed his head, his hands wringing in front of him. ‘I’m sorry, Sir.’ He said softly. ‘I’ve been busy.’

‘And what, exactly, Mr Potter, is more important than your education?’ The raised eyebrow remained.

Harry finally raised his head and stared back, his expression blank. ‘My life.’ He whispered. ‘and the lives of those I love.’

Both of Snape’s eyebrows shot skywards as he stared down at the sixteen year old in front of him. This wasn’t the same boy of a year ago or even a month ago. ‘I see that you’ve finally realized the futility of relying on your Gryffindor idiocy to save everyone.’ He gestured to the Dark Arts books scattered at Harry’s feet.

Harry glanced down before blushing brightly. ‘Yes, Sir. No one will die for me again.’ He said firmly and with such conviction that Snape almost took a step backwards. He could feel the self hate and loathing rolling off the boy in waves.

‘Go to bed, Potter.’ His said curtly.

‘Sir?’ Harry gave him a quizzical look.

‘Would you feel better if I gave you detention Mr Potter?’ Snape asked sarcastically.

Harry snorted. ‘Probably.’ He muttered.

‘From what I’ve heard it would be a moot point as you wouldn’t turn up anyway.’

Harry gave a non committal sound before reply. ‘I would turn up for yours Sir.’

Now it was Snape’s turn to look curious. ‘And why would that be Mr Potter. You don’t turn up for any other detentions. You don’t turn up for normal classes to be told you even have detention. Your classes are important.’

Harry rolled his eyes. ‘And how, Professor, is learning to turn a table lamp into a turtle supposed to help me defeat Tom Riddle anyway. I suppose if the turtle were big enough I could squash him to death.’ He added with a smirk, eyes shining as he saw the Professor’s mouth twitch. ‘Of course, I suppose I could try several cheering charms, or maybe tickling charms. He might split himself laughing. The again, I’m sure I could practically bore him to death reciting goblin rebellions.’

Snape actually let out a snort, startling Harry once again. ‘I do see your point, Mr Potter.’ He drawled before looking down at Harry shrewdly. ‘I have a proposition for you, Mr Potter.’

‘A proposition, Sir?’ Harry asked tentatively.

‘I trust you know where my office is?’ Harry nodded. ‘I’ll expect you to be there at eight sharp tomorrow night.’

Harry looked thoughtfully at the man in front of him. His mind was racing, he had thought he was done for at the beginning of the conversation, instead the potions master had talked civilly to him, well, civilly for Snape anyway, and inviting him to his office the following night, no loss of points or even a detention. Harry nodded in acquiescence and Snape turned on his heel and stalked away.

‘Good night Mr Potter.’ He called over his shoulder and Harry let out the breath he had been holding, just a moment to soon. ‘Oh, and ten points from Gryffindor for being out after curfew.’ Came floating back at him.

‘Bollocks.’ Harry swore, hearing the other man snort softly before the library door closed.

End Flashback.

The next evening had been the beginning of a rather odd…partnership. Three evenings a week Harry would meet Snape in the Room of Requirement and let the potions master throw some of the nastiest and most vile spells in his arsenal at him as Harry tried his best to counter them. They worked on Animagus transformation before slinking down to the Forbidden Forest so that Harry could learn to apparate. The only payment Snape required for all this extra tuition was that Harry return to his classes, although he had sneered and added that being able to curse Harry with almost anything had really been payment in itself. Harry had just smirked and ducked.

Snape had told Harry that Dumbledore and the Order were getting suspicious, hence the need to return to classes. He said Dumbledore was worried that Harry was leaning towards the dark. That with his history at the Dursleys, he would take the same path as Voldemort and join the Dark Lord. Harry had had a good laugh at that but Snape had not been amused.

‘Potter.’ Harry was startled out of his reverie by the potions master’s growl. He hadn’t even realized he had just stepped into the castle.

‘Sir?’ Harry asked hesitantly as Snape bundled him into the room just inside the entrance hall.

‘You have to get out of here. Now.’ Snape told him, handing him a small bag.

‘What? What are you talking about?’

‘Longbottom’s dead. They are saying it was you. The great hall is full of Aurors.’

‘WHAT?” Harry bellowed, Snape instantly clapping his hand over Harry’s mouth.

‘Shut up, Potter and listen.’ He hissed. ‘There were witnesses, they all said it was you. They are here to arrest you. If you don’t go now, you will be in Azkaban for the rest of your life.’

‘But I didn’t do it.’ Harry insisted. ‘I didn’t do anything.’

Snape rolled his eyes. ‘I know this,you know this. But I can promise you Potter, that every single person in that hall thinks you are guilty as hell.’

Harry’s expression blanked. ‘There must be a mistake. They’ll sort it out.’ He said confidently, moving around the potions master and grasping the door handle.

‘Potter.’ Snape growled, grabbing his arm. ‘For once in your life, quash that Gryffindor in you and let the Slytherin rear it’s head. The only chance you have is to run until we can find the truth.’

Harry shook his head. ‘No Professor. I’ve never run before and I’m not going to start now.’ He finished, opening the door and crossing swiftly towards the great hall.

‘For Merlin’s sake.’ Snape groaned as Harry disappeared through the doors.

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Harry felt the door smack into his back as it closed behind him. It seemed as if the entire hall had been awaiting his return and were all glaring hatefully at him. The group of ten Aurors moved towards him as Dumbledore and McGonagall strode down from the head table. Harry looked into the normally blue eyes seeing only ice and it was only then that he realized why Snape had been so worried. There would be no investigation, no chance of freedom. He had been tried and found guilty already in the eyes of those that counted.

‘Mr Potter,’ Dumbledore said coldly as the Aurors roughly bound Harry’s arms. ‘I am severely disappointed in you.’

‘Professor, what…’ Harry trailed off, seeing nothing but anger and hate in the eyes of those around him. He was numb as the Aurors explained what he was being arrested for, it was a distant sound that barely reached his level on consciousness. The only thing that did register as they half dragged, half carried him from the hall was the pained looked that flickered in the eyes of the potions master as he stood watching from the edge of the hall and the same look that he caught in brown eyes that were wide with horror.

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The screaming in his head receded as the Dementors moved away and Harry pulled himself up so he was leaning against the wall once more. Almost four years had passed since he had been thrown into this hell hole and Harry knew it was only the beginning.

The trial had been swift and brutal. The only thing stopping Dumbledore and the rest of the Wizingamot from sentencing him to the Dementors Kiss was the prophecy that he was the only one able to defeat the current Dark Lord.

Harry had agreed for the use of Veritaserum but after Priory Incantatem on his wand revealed the dark arts spell he had been learning, the jury decided he must have a way of circumventing the truth serum and discounted his testimony.

The court had been full of Order members as well as reporters and students from school. Ron’s glare had practically drilled through his head and Hermione wouldn’t even look at him.

It wasn’t until a few days later, when he found the small piece of parchment that Snape had obviously slipped into the pocket of his robe as he dosed him with Veritaserum, that he knew why it was his closest friend couldn’t even stand to look at him.

My Harry,

I know you had nothing to do with Neville’s death. I know you better than anyone and I know you could not be capable of such darkness and I have told as many people as I can. Ron has been bragging about how he knew you were bad all along but I refuse to listen. Dumbledore has me spending the entire summer with the Weasley. I think he is trying to convert me to their way of thinking. It won’t work Harry, I promise. I know it wasn’t you and I promise, no matter how long it takes, I will find the truth and set you free.

I won’t be able to look at you today, Dumbledore will be watching me along with the rest of the Order and I need them to think that I don’t care anymore otherwise they will watch me all the time and I won’t be able to find anything out. Just remember that I love you and I believe in you and we will set you free.

Don’t forget that.

Love,

Your Hermione.

Harry had read the letter, tears streaming down his face. He had thought everyone had condemned him, but one person, one he care more about than any other, hadn’t. Instead, making sure he knew she would stand by him and would find out the truth.

Almost every day he took out the parchment and read over what Hermione had to say. Telling himself to stay strong, that if anyone could find out the truth it would be Hermione.

He glanced once more at the parchment before tucking it into the tattered pocket of his robe and curling over onto his side and drifting off to sleep. Maybe he’d have that nice dream about Hermione and the two brown haired, green eyed children once again.

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It what he guessed was quite early the next morning, although with no windows it was hard to tell, when he heard the swish of robes and the tell tale murmur of an incantation to unlock his door. This had only happened several times over the first few weeks he was there as the guards all came down to have a look, and a go, at the Boy-Who-Lived.

The door swung open and soon Harry felt a hand on his shoulder, turning him over.

‘Harry?’ a soft whisper echoed in his head causing him to freeze instantly. ‘Harry, look at me, please?’ the soft voice pleaded.

Green eyes flickered open and he saw the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. ‘Mione?’ he rasped as he sat up slowly. His voice hoarse from lack of use as he spoke again. ‘Mione, is it really you?’

‘Oh Harry.’ Hermione burst into tears, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly.

Harry finally looked up at the others who had filed into his little cell and pulled violently away.

‘What’s he doing here?’ he growled hoarsely, his green eyes glinting in anger at Dumbledore who was standing just inside the doorway.

‘Shh, Harry. It’s alright. He has to be here.’ Hermione said soothingly.

‘Miss Granger is right, Mr Potter.’ Snape spoke up from the other corner, startling Harry. ‘As the head of the Wizingamot, it is his duty to terminate your sentence and give you back your wand.’ Harry wasn’t sure, but he thought he could detect a hint of triumph in the potions master’s voice.

‘What?’ Harry looked confused, his anger momentarily forgotten.

‘It’s over Harry.’ Hermione said softly. ‘Your free.’

‘Free?’ Harry whispered.

Hermione nodded, her eyes still filled with tears. ‘It was Zabini and Montague with a little help from Peter Pettigrew.’ She explained. ‘I caught them last week and Professor Snape and I have been working ever since to get you out.’

‘Free.’ Harry whispered again, his eyes dropping to his hands as his tears threatened to fall. Hermione had come through. She had saved him as she had promised. Harry looked up into the brown eyes in front of him. ‘Thank you.’ He whispered. Hermione burst into tears again and hugged him once more.

‘We really should be going, Mr Potter.’ Snape said quietly. Harry nodded, pulling away but not letting go of Hermione’s hand.

‘There is just once task I must perform.’ Dumbledore told him, pulling out his wand. Harry tensed but Hermione squeezed his hand soothingly. ‘Finite Adstringo Azkaban.’ The headmaster chanted, removing the ties that bound him to the prison before pulling Harry’s wand from his pocket and handing it over. ‘I am truly sorry, Harry.’ He added.

‘You should be.’ Harry growled before hauling himself to his feet.

‘Come on Harry.’ Hermione said, ignoring the Headmaster and leading Harry towards the door and outside. The trip up from the depths of the prison was long but the minute Harry stepped outside, the sunlight burning his eyes and making tears fall once again, the smell of fresh air had him staggering.

Hermione just smiled at the look on his face and guided him down towards the boat that was waiting. It was only as they drew away from the dock that Harry realized the Dementors had not shown themselves that morning.

‘They were locked away until we left.’ Hermione whispered, correctly reading his expression.

Harry smiled. ‘Even after all these years, you know me too well, Mione.’ He murmured.

Hermione reached up to tuck the dirty lank hair back behind his ear. ‘I never thought this day would come.’ She said softly. ‘I mean I hoped and I prayed but I never dreamed it would really happen.’

Harry rubbed softly on the back of her hand with his thumb. ‘Thank you for believing in me, Mione. I will never be able to show you how much that meant.’

Hermione smiled and leaned over to place a soft kiss at his temple, dirt and all. ‘Don’t worry.’ She said with a small smirk. ‘You’ve got plenty of years yet to try.’

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On the other side of the boat sat Dumbledore and Snape both intently watching the interaction between the Boy-Who-Lived and his best friend.

‘Harry is lucky to have Miss Granger.’ Dumbledore observed.

‘Mr Potter wouldn’t need Miss Granger if you hadn’t been such a suspicious old man.’ Snape murmured.

‘I know.’

‘You have a lot to make up for Albus.’ Severus chided softly. ‘You past lack of faith in Mr Potter will be your biggest hurdle.’

‘You are correct Severus.’ Dumbledore was silent for a moment. ‘Do you think he will turn?’

Snape snorted loudly. ‘Do you never learn?’ he scolded, standing up and moving towards the front of the boat.

Dumbledore glanced over at the two ex Gryffindors sitting side by side, Hermione gently untangling the knots in Harry hair before turning sad blue eyes back to the stiff backed man staring out across the water and shook his head. ‘It seems not.’ He said sadly.

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There you are. The start of yet another. I have the next chapters about half done for New Life and Deserves and hope to have them up later this week.

I’d love to know what you thought of the start. I haven’t done a Harry/Hermione fic yet and thought I should give it a try. I await your verdict before continuing.

Regards,

Mione.