Chapter Text
Harry couldn’t do this anymore. He felt sick. He had just almost killed Mr. Weasley. Everyone kept reassuring him that it wasn't his fault, but he had seen it, felt it. He had been the snake, felt himself when he slithered and coiled and poised ready to strike. Felt it when he had plunged his fangs into Mr. Weasley's flesh. Felt it when the blood spilled out of the puncture marks. Feeling even worse now, Harry shook his head and focused on his plan. It was simple, made after Dumbledore had tried to make him stay. Because even though he trusted Dumbledore, he couldn't stay, not when everyone else would be in danger.
That night he packed his trunk and made his way downstairs, not expecting anyone to be awake. It was simple, he would slip outside, past the wards, maybe call the night bus and it would take him to Hogsmeade where he had enough galleon to stay until the end of the holidays. Then he could easily slip in with the rest of the students on their way back with his invisibility cloak. Yes, that would work nicely he thought to himself as he quietly pulled his trunk downstairs. That's when it all went to hell. First, as he snuck by the living room he noticed that someone was actually awake. Ron was sitting by the fireplace and he turned around spotting Harry as he moved passed.
“Mate, where are you going?, he asked. “” Nowhere," Harry replied." Just to the kitchen.” It was quite obvious that he was carrying his trunk though. Ron looked skeptical.
“Where are you actually going?, he asked again. “Mum would skin me alive if she ever knew I was awake this late."
Harry didn’t even respond, not even registering the question. But rather looking from Ron to the doorway as if seeing if he could make a run for it. Harry was starting to spiral now, he could feel his scar beginning to burn like it did every night and knew he needed to occlude. He didn’t trust himself and didn’t want to hurt anybody else.
“Harry?” Ron asked, stepping closer as he started to realize something was really wrong. As soon as Ron stepped forward, Harry flinched back, stumbling away.
“ N-no, don’t t-touch me," he said.
Harry was starting to get really overwhelmed and all he knew was that he needed to leave so that he didn't put anyone else in danger. He started backing away trying to think above the roaring in his head. He started to breathe heavier and the only thought running through his head was that he needed to leave so he didn't hurt anyone else.. He didn't notice backing up until he hit a wall and slid down it. He didn’t notice Ron calling for someone as his head started swimming. He buried his face in his hands and tried to focus on occluding but all he could think about was that the longer he spent here the more danger everyone was in. Then suddenly a few people rushed downstairs and ran over to him. He looked up to see Sirius kneeling in front of him while Remus and McGonagall stood behind. Sirius took Harry’s hands into his own. Harry flinched back as though he had been struck, his trunk now lying forgotten on the floor.
“N-n-o, don’t t-touch m-m-me, I could h-hurt y-you”. He stuttered, his breathing getting worse.
Sirius just shook his head and said, “Harry, you need to breathe,” Harry just shook his head as he started to hyperventilate and curl into himself. He couldn’t hear anything that anyone was saying anymore. His vision was getting darker and his head was swimming. The roaring in his ears was getting louder as his lips turned blue from lack of oxygen. The last thing he remembered was Sirius saying something before the world turned black and he slumped unconscious.