Author's Note: Set in Harry's Seventh year. Final Battle over the summer.

Bleeding Heart

During the final battle, when Harry was locked in the ultimate dual that would determine the outcome of the war, Voldemort knew he was about to lose. He had one tenth of a second to send one final curse towards Harry before the energy from their wands took his life.

After everything was said and done, Harry decided to remain at Hogwarts for his final year. Hermione was only too happy to stay, even though she could easily test out of the final NEWTs. Ron and Ginny both decided to study from home so that he could heal with what was left of the rest of their family. Albus Dumbledore gave a full testimony on Severus Snape's behalf regarding his role as a spy, and demanded he be allowed to stay on as Potions Professor at Hogwarts. Snape wasn't thrilled, but it was safe and quiet. He'd pick anything that could keep him away from other people and their incessant questions. He found he was more irritable than ever. He didn't know why, but he felt it had something to do with a certain Golden Boy. Hardly a boy now, but a man with a Golden future. Surely he didn't need to keep himself from his adoring fan club.

As the new school year kicked off, Harry felt elated that all he had to worry about was his studies and Quiddich. Just like any other young man. He could put off the larger responsibilities for now, and just be Harry.

The first time he went to Double Potions, they were brewing a complicated potion that was surely going to be on the NEWT's. Harry thought his was going along well when he heard a voice behind him. "Mr. Potter. In what universe is that considered a clockwise stir?" Harry, being distracted by something else realized he was indeed stirring in the wrong direction. "Just because you're the star of the wizarding world, doesn't mean you get to slack off in class. Why did you even bother coming back if you can't even follow the simplest of instructions?" Snape turned and headed down the aisle while a few Slytherins laughed. No one saw how Harry's face was twisted in confusion and what looked like pain. He decided to ignore it, and continued working.

Weeks went by, and Harry could no longer ignore what was going on in Potions. It didn't happen every day, but it seemed every time he got on Snape's bad side, he ended up feeling a sharp pain in his chest. It reminded him of when he used the blood quill with Umbridge. He figured it was nothing, but it started leaving actual marks on his chest. Like he was slowly being scratched from the inside out. At this point, it was starting to get worse after every class.

Why was Snape affecting him so? He used to just get flushed whenever the man was around. But now, any time the man talked to him, or more likely talked down at him, he would feel that pain.

Finally, the day came when he was in so much pain, he couldn't even see straight. His potion was ruined, and nearly destroyed the classroom. Snape was livid. He kept going around and saying how fame is worthless compared to the real world, and how the real world would never accept an inept dunderhead and fool who uses his name just to get whatever he wants.

"Stop! Please stop!" Harry pleaded clutching his chest.

"And why should I stop? You get enough praise. It's time you listened to the truth. And the truth is that you are no more fit to brew a potion than Mr. Longbottom."

Harry started to cough. It steadily grew worse.

"You will keep your grotesque coughing to yourself if you please."

But the coughing didn't stop. Instead, Harry started shaking. "Plea…se… *cough* I *cough* can't help…" He couldn't even finish his sentence as he violently coughed up something he thought was phlegm. Yet when he looked down through his tears, he could see that his hand was covered in blood.

The class was silent as Harry collapsed to the floor unconscious from the shock. He wasn't the only one who wanted to faint from the sight. Snape stopped his tirade as soon as he saw the blood. He gently moved the boy over and onto his back. Catching a bit of red from the mouth, Snape followed it down until he could see red under his tie. Peering down the front of the robes, Snape gasped. He quickly gathered the boy into his arms and barked at the rest of the class. "Class dismissed. Leave your potions in your cauldrons and put a stasis charm on them. I'll grade them according to how precise they should be at this stage." With that, he rushed the unconscious boy to the hospital wing. He managed to send a Patronus to alert the Headmaster.

When he barged in, Poppy was more than surprised to see the two of them. "What in blazes happened? I was hoping this would be a year I wouldn't have to worry about young Mr. Potter."

Snape laid him down on the first available bed, and let the woman run her scans. When she removed the robe, the sight was ghastly. Blood seeped over the entire front of Harry's chest. Just then, Dumbledore and McGonagall both rushed in with worried faces. Harry's shirt was then removed, revealing an angry red X mark over Harry's heart. "What happened?" Dumbledore asked.

"He collapsed in my Potions class, Headmaster. He was coughing up blood." Snape said. He was still in shock himself. If he thought about it, every time he berated the boy, his hand would often go to his chest.

"Albus, I've never seen this before. It's riddled with Dark Magic. These wounds won't heal." Poppy said trying to stay calm but panic was clearly laced into her voice.

Dumbledore sat down on the edge of Harry's bed so that he could take a good look. He waved his wand a few times, and sat deep in thought. Finally, he spoke. "What caused him to have a fit, Severus?"

"I'm not sure Headmaster." Snape said.

"I'd appreciate your full honesty Severus. This is serious." Dumbledore didn't look at him, but his voice was firm.

Severus felt like he was a student back in the old days when the old man talked firmly to him. "I was criticizing his potion making abilities and saying how he can't hide behind the fame of his name forever."

"Have there been other times such as this?"

"No. Nothing too out of the ordinary."

Dumbledore sighed. Looking away from Harry, he took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. The gesture made him look very old and tired, and that worried everyone in the room. "I fear," Dumbledore said slowly, as though he did not wish to speak his next words. "That Harry was not completely unharmed during the final battle with Voldemort. It seems as though he was able to curse Harry in his final moments. I have not heard of this kind of cruel magic in years." He looked back at the fragile boy with sympathy. "Oh Severus. Why must you hate the boy so?"

The question nearly knocked the Professor off his feet, though he seemed unmoved. "I don't know what you mean. I treat him no differently than any other student."

"Then the question must be why must you hate all your students, but we'll leave that for now. For now, we must focus on Harry, and your treatment of him." He reached up and brushed some hair out of Harry's eyes. "Harry Potter… is dying." The women both gasped while Snape's mouth dropped. "This curse is meant to turn words into daggers. When we feel disappointed, put down, yelled at, we feel a pang in our hearts. But this curse turns it into a physical manifestation of that pain. Like a knife slashing at his skin. In the common tongue, it's known as the Bleeding Heart."

"So he would be hurt every time anyone said something unkind?" Minerva asked.

"Normally, yes. Which was probably what the Dark Lord intended. But seeing as how Harry's greatest strength and shield was through love, it seems as though the curse took that form." Dumbledore finally looked at the frozen form of the Potions Master. "Every cruel word from the one he loved became a dagger stabbing his heart. You've been indirectly killing him Severus." Dumbledore waited until the facts sunk in.

Snape couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Are you trying to tell me that he loves me? That is absolutely absurd Albus! I'm old enough to be his father. I hated his father! And I only kept him safe so that he could live through this damn war. Now you're telling me that I'm the one who's been killing him? What do you expect me to do? Save the brat again?"

"Severus… look." Dumbledore pointed to Harry's chest.

Snape snapped to look at Harry's chest, and could see fresh blood seeping from the wounds. His babbling tirade died on his lips. And he felt lost.

"I don't expect you to do anything, Severus. Because nothing can be done now. I know asking you to learn to love the boy would be an impossible task, and I don't know the full nature of the curse involved. As it stands, Harry Potter will die much sooner than any of us would want. Two years at best with the extent of this damage. And he'll be in constant pain the whole time. I only ask you refrain from making it worse, Severus."

Severus felt all eyes on him. He felt the blame, and he couldn't stand it. He turned to leave while they all mourned over the fate of their savior. As he closed the door, he could see a familiar figure walking down the hall. "Ms. Granger. With me. I wish to speak with you." Hermione knew not to argue, even though she wished to see her friend badly. Severus knew she was probably concerned, so he didn't want to drag her all the way down into the dungeons for their chat. Instead, he took her to one of the bell towers. It was secluded enough, and private enough for them to have their discussion. Just to be sure, he put a silencing charm on the room. "What we discuss in here must be kept with the utmost discretion, is that understood?" He asked. Hermione nodded, waiting for him to continue. "You've sat with Mr. Potter during classes, and you're with him the most. Have you ever noticed any peculiar behavior?"

She cleared her throat. "Nothing noticeable. He laughs with his friends, he fights with other Slytherin students, but nothing has ever happened like it has today. Is he alright?"

"I wish I could say he was. Now tell me. Are you sure he's never acted strangely, even in my class?"

Hermione thought, "He seemed more uncomfortable in class. Sometimes when I thought he was concentrating, he looked like he was in pain, and he would rub his chest like he had heart burn. Since that was the only time it happened, and Potions is right after lunch, I thought he was just having acid reflux. I asked him a few times about it, but he said it was nothing. It was never too bad, so I didn't worry too much. But I should have known he was being stubborn, and didn't tell me when something was wrong. He doesn't like anyone worrying about him."

Severus thought this over. It was true. The boy hardly ever told anyone when he was having cursed nightmares or visions unless someone was in danger. "What about his personal life. Weren't he and Miss Weasley thinking about tying the knot soon?"

Hermione couldn't help but snort at that. "I'm sorry Professor, but anyone who knows Harry knows he's not interested in any girl. Ginny allows the rest of the public to think they are together so that it can ward off unwanted advances. I don't know why you're interested in Harry's personal life, but he isn't currently seeing anyone."

"It's relevant, I assure you. I need you to listen to me very carefully." Hermione started to look concerned. "I want you to research everything you can on an ancient curse known as the Bleeding Heart. It appears Voldemort may have cursed Mr. Potter with it during the final battle. Dumbledore is afraid there is no counter curse. I shall inform the library to give you access to the restricted section. Do you accept?"

It took a while for Hermione to find her voice. "O-of course."

"Very well then. I shall concentrate my own efforts in trying to find a potion to counter the effects. If you should find anything, report to me immediately, do you understand?"

"Yes sir."

"Very well. Go see your friend. But be aware that we are working against the clock." With that, Snape cancelled the silencing charm and headed down the stairs. On his swift escape to the dungeon, he failed to see a pair of sparkling eyes watching his retreating form.