Entitled

Chapter 77

You wake up the morning of Harry's trial with a knot of anxiety twisting in your stomach. The hours stretch on endlessly, and each minute feels like an eternity. You can't seem to focus on anything, your mind constantly drifting back to Harry and the trial.

Severus watches you pace the room, his own frustration mounting. "You need to calm down," he says, his voice tight. "Worrying won't change anything."

"I can't help it," you snap, your nerves frayed. "This is Harry we're talking about. What if they expel him? What if they don't believe him?"

Severus sighs, running a hand through his hair. "We have to trust that Dumbledore will handle it."

The tension between you grows, your anxiety causing you to lash out. "You don't understand," you say, your voice rising. "If Harry is expelled, everything we've worked for could fall apart. He needs to be where we can protect him, keep a watchful eye."

"I do understand," Severus replies, his tone sharp. "But we can't control the outcome. We can only prepare for what comes next."

The morning drags on, each minute adding to your anxiety. You snap at Severus over trivial things, your frustration boiling over. "Why can't you be more supportive?" you demand, your eyes flashing.

Severus's expression hardens. "I am supportive," he says evenly. "But we need to stay focused. Losing our tempers won't help Harry."

Just when you think you can't take the suspense any longer, the Daily Prophet arrives. You practically tear it from the owl's beak, scanning the front page. There it is, in bold letters: Harry Potter Acquitted of All Charges.

Relief floods through you, and you let out a shaky breath. "He's innocent," you say, your voice trembling.

Severus nods, his own relief evident. "Good. Now we can move forward."

You collapse into a chair, your anxiety slowly ebbing away. "I'm sorry," you whisper. "I didn't mean to take it out on you."

Severus walks over, placing a comforting hand on your shoulder. "What are you specifically anxious about?" he asks softly, his concern evident in his eyes.

You take a deep breath, your voice trembling as you reply, "Everything, Severus. Harry, Voldemort, everyone's lives that are entangled in this mess. I have so many things in my head right now I can't focus on any one thing. It's overwhelming."

Severus's expression softens, his grip tightening on your shoulder. "I understand. It's a lot to carry."

Tears well up in your eyes as you continue, "I don't think I'm strong enough to help anyone. I feel like I'm drowning, and I don't know how to get out of it. Every decision, every move we make feels like it's teetering on the edge of disaster."

He pulls you into his arms, holding you tightly. "You are stronger than you realize. We're all feeling the pressure, but you are not alone in this. We will face it together, and we will find a way through."

You cling to him, feeling the warmth of his embrace grounding you. "I just don't want to fail," you whisper, your voice breaking.

Severus gently strokes your hair, his voice steady and reassuring. "You won't. We will face each challenge as it comes, and we will do it together. You are not alone in this, and you never will be."

You pull back slightly, your frustration evident. "It feels like everything is on my shoulders because I see so many things, and it's too much for one mind," you say, your voice trembling. The weight of your responsibilities and the visions you've been having are pressing down on you, making it hard to breathe.