No Good

Chapter 1: A Nightmarish Vision

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of these characters.

"LOOK AT ME!" The entire room snapped their heads to the green eyed teenager who was sweating profusely and twitching as if he was possessed. Never had they heard him speak in such a tone, especially to that of the esteemed Headmaster of Hogwarts.

"W—what's happening to me?" The boy, Harry Potter, spoke brokenly. His body was wracked with sweat, tears were rolling down his eyes, and his heart was pounding wildly as if trying to extricate himself from his chest.

"You summoned me, Headmaster?" Harry was surprised by the silky smooth tone of voice that befitted his Potions Professor from behind him.

"Severus, I'm afraid we can't wait any longer, not even till the morning. Or else we'll be vulnerable." The Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, wore a grave look on his face, one that the entire room had almost never seen before.

Harry looked downwards at Dumbledore's voice, too ashamed of himself for his manic episode. He was so weak, so tired, so broken. He was no good to anyone around him, not even to the people who had welcomed him to their home, his best friend Ron Weasley, his sister Ginny, and his twin brothers Fred and George. He had watched their father be attacked and did nothing, he COULDN'T do anything. Even now, they were here with him showing concern, not realizing that he was at fault. Suddenly, bile rose up through his throat before spilling out of his mouth onto the floor.

The entire room watched the young man throw up before he crumbled to his knees, sobs tearing through his body like waves, and pitied him.

"Take him back to your office, Severus, he must learn to guard his mind." Severus Snape, with surprising gentleness, picked Harry up by his collar and began pulling him to his quarters.

The Potions Master, and teen walked in silence to the office, neither wanting to address the other. Soon, they made it to the Dungeons where Severus calmly swung the door open to his office, and let the boy walk in.

"Take some water, and clean yourself up," he commanded the boy gently. To those who knew him, Severus had always seemed to be unimpressed by the boy, and even downright hostile. Tonight, however, something changed.

"Sir, I'm sorry. I—I don't know what's happening to me. I..." Harry looked down once again in shame, hating and berating himself for even showing the slightest bit of weakness to Snape.

"I do, and I will help you," Severus was not used to the boy being openly vulnerable to anyone, but he took it in stride.

Harry took the glass of water and downed it in one gulp, savoring the cool refreshing feel of it as it flowed through his body.

"Sit down, you have much to learn. I will teach you how to shield your mind from...invaders. Voldemort has been invading your mind, and if he continues to do so, there is no telling what could happen to you." Harry nodded dumbly to the words before taking a seat opposite his Professor.

"Now, Harry..." Harry looked up in shock to the Professor's words because the teacher had never once addressed him by his first name.

"You must learn to shield your mind. Clear it, clear your anger, your feelings, your self doubt, and your hate. Empty your head." The Potions Master was now pointing his wand to the seated boy with a reluctant look painted across his face.

"I will attempt to breach your mind, and you must try to ward me off. DO NOT, under any circumstances, let me access your thoughts. Get ready."

Harry nodded before preparing for the onslaught that he knew was coming. Suddenly, his mind felt as if it were being jabbed by a thousand needles as images of his life unwittingly flashed through it.

"NO GOOD. TRY AGAIN, HARRY." Severus didn't want to be harsh to the boy, but it was imperative that he learnt this, lest Voldemort take full advantage of him.

Harry mentally prepared himself again only for the exact same result to happen. No matter his best efforts, he was forced to relive some of his most painful memories over and over again. On and on this went until Severus grabbed him by the shoulders.

"YOU HAVE TO TRY HARDER, HARRY. LOOK AT ME, YOU NEED TO LEARN THIS." Harry winced at the man's yells before shrinking down into his seat tiredly.

"We'll do it tomorrow, I can't do this anymore."

"THERE IS NO TOMORROW. YOU GIVE VOLDEMORT AN EDGE OVER YOU, AND HE WILL DESTROY YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU LOVE, BOY."

"I—I can't, I'm...I'm too weak. I'm no good." Harry made to get up after his confession but felt himself being pushed into his seat.

Severus Snape was not one to give up, but he knew that the boy was in no condition to keep going, and instead regarded him with a softness that he hadn't used in years.

"We will continue this when you are better. I am not going to give up on this, and neither are you. Go back to your Common Room and get some rest." Severus turned and retreated to his private room, leaving the boy to his own devices.