Notes

This is a very short chapter. I just wanted to see if there is any interest in it. It's also my first fanfic so if there is any constructive criticism, I would gladly welcome it. Fair warning: I'm american, so aside from a few very common words, this is't going to sound very British. sorry. ALSO, there are a few lines in one of the letters that I wanted to "cross out" but I realized that the doc manager wouldn't let me do so. Is there a reason why?

He was going to die.

Harry couldn't say definitively when he was going to die, but unless real changes were made and he started treating Voldemort like the real threat he was, Harry was going to get himself killed. In his four years at Hogwarts, he'd directly faced the snake-nosed asshole three times and all three times he had survived on instinct and (as his head of house would say) sheer dumb luck. Harry couldn't count on that luck to hold out.

Harry hadn't come to this epiphany right away. When his summer began, the tri-wizard tournament had been fresh on his mind, but he had still hung onto the faith that Dumbledore would somehow fix everything. But the Dursley's treatment of him was only getting worse and his nightmares were no better. It seemed awake or asleep, his life was tormented.

And then one day, as he was mowing the lawn, it really slapped him in the face. The wizarding word's most dangerous man wanted him dead and he wasn't even fifteen bloody years old. He was about to fight in a real war and he had absolutely no training. He was going to die.

Naturally, his first thought had been to go to Dumbledore, but he quickly dismissed the idea. Dumbledore wouldn't listen to him. The headmaster seemed to think that Harry deserved a normal childhood (although, apparently not enough to have guardians that didn't starve and emotionally abuse him). Harry needed someone to convince Dumbledore that Harry's "normal" childhood was going to keep him from any kind of adulthood. So, he wrote to the next adult he trusted the most.

Dear Padfoot,

Ever since everything that happened last year, I've been thinking. You-Know-Who is only getting stronger and it seems that I have to deal with him in some way every year. I feel like I should start training and preparing. No one can tell me a war isn't coming. I saw him brought back first hand. But I know Dumbledore won't listen to me. He still thinks I need to be kept away from this, but I feel like he does want me to play some part. I guess I don't understand. Does he want me to have to fight unprepared? Or does he think we have more time? Anyway, could you maybe talk to him for me? Anything would be better than sitting here doing nothing…

Love,

Harry

Sirius' reply was the very next day, but unfortunately very little help.

Harry,

I absolutely agree that it's time we start preparing for the inevitable fight ahead. As much as I see where Dumbledore is coming from, it does no one any good to pretend You-Know-Who isn't growing in power. That said, unfortunately my words don't hold much weight with our esteemed headmaster, at the moment. Apparently, spending twelve years in a prison known for turning people crazy isn't great for your credibility. Who knew? Anyway, if anyone could get the Headmaster to listen, it would be Snape. Greasy git that he is, Dumbledore trusts him completely, or at least as much as he trusts anyone. Snape and your mother were fairly close for a long time, maybe mention that if you write him.

Good Luck, kid. Love you,

Padfoot

Initially, Harry rejected the idea completely. Professor Snape? There was no way that he would go to Dumbledore on his behalf. The man hated him, and, to be completely fair, the feeling was mutual. He was a bully and that was all Harry needed to despise the potion's master, not that Snape hadn't given him plenty more to hate. Still, he probably didn't want Harry dead. In his first year he had saved him from the broom. In his third, it was Professor Snape who had tried to protect him and his friends from Remus while he was transformed. Even last year, he didn't seem to take any joy in seeing Harry forced to participate in the tournament. Maybe. The letter was harder to write than he participated. He found himself more conscientious of his penmanship and grammar, not to mention that it felt wrong to be asking his most despised professor for a favor.

Dear Snape (Crossed Out)

Snape (Crossed Out)

Oi, Snape You Ugly Bat (Crossed Out)

Professor Snape,

I'm not really sure why I'm writing you. You'd probably be overjoyed if Voldemort killed me in my sleep. But maybe not. You seem to be the only professor that actually makes sure I'm not actively dying every year. (Balls. I'm getting off topic. Crossed Out) Anyway, I guess I'm asking you for a favor. I almost died last year. Again. Voldemort wants me dead and I basically only know a few decent defensive spells and practically no offensive spells. He's going to kill me. (Oh Merlin, I'm going to die. Please. Crossed Out) Dumbledore either doesn't believe he will or doesn't want me ready for some reason. I need training. I know he wants me to have a "normal" childhood but I'm two years from legal adulthood and you could hardly call the Dursley's a normal home regardless. I was hoping maybe you could speak to the headmaster for me. I know you don't like me, and honestly, I haven't been the best student. (You've been bloody awful too, though. I don't know. Crossed Out) Padfoot says you used to be close to my mum. I never knew that. My parents are dead so that I would survive. They probably wouldn't want me to die just because I wasn't prepared. Just something to thank about.

Yours, (Crossed Out)

Thanks in Advance, I guess (Crossed Out)

Sincerely (Crossed Out)

Fuck this (Crossed Out)

Potter

He crumpled the missive five times and rewrote it another two before he finally sent Hedwig off with the letter. It was beyond a long shot. He was so screwed.

Notes

Let me know if I should continue. You can also find this story on A03