Part Two

"All right, Harry? You left in a hurry," Ron called as Snape climbed into the Common Room.

"Uh, yeah. I left some homework behind in the library," Snape lied.

"Oh, okay, but you hardly took any homework out. You said your scar hurt too much ot focus."

"Yes, well some of it fell out when we left."

Snape hurried up the stone steps and into the top dorm where he quickly located the bed he was to sleep in, changed his clothes, and got into bed. He closed the curtains and laid there for a time, cursing Potter for making a wish at the same time he did. If only he had waited a little longer to think it or thought it sooner, this wouldn't have happened. He rolled over and felt something hard against his temple: The glasses. He growled softly, took them off, and laid them on the bedside table before drifting into a sleep punctuated with a dream of walking down a corridor that ended in a pain black door. He woke up in the morning with the scar prickling uncomfortably and he rubbed it forcefully to make it stop; it didn't work.

How does Potter put up with this? Snape wondered later as he headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast. My guess is that he does, sometimes. Now, that dream last night. I recognize it as the entrance to the Department of Mysteries. I know the Dark Lord dwells on the prophecy which is why Potter dreams of it, even though he doesn't know why.

Snape entered the Great Hall and immediately looked up at the Staff Table to see Potter in his usual seat, hardly eating anything. He sat beside Weasley and across from Granger. He pulled some eggs, bacon, and toast toward him and filled his plate as the owl post arrived. A brown owl brought Granger a copy of The Daily Prophet who gave it a Knut and took the paper. She unfolded it, looked at the front page, and gasped loudly.

"What?" Weasley asked.

Granger laid the paper out and Snape gaped at the article that showed ten photographs and topped with the story of a mass breakout from Azkaban early yesterday evening. About shortly after I ended up in Potter's body. I experienced his happiness and this is why he was happy. He glanced up at the Staff Table again and noticed Professor Sprout reading the Prophet with Potter also looking at it. He returned to his breakfast.

Harry headed downstairs to prepare for his first Potions class, his mind still whirling over the article he just read. Ten Death Eaters escaped. That's sure to make Voldemort happy…really happy. If this happened yesterday, why didn't I experience it? Oh, wait. I usually get those flashes through my scar, but I'm in Snape's body so I don't have a scar to receive them through…but Snape does! Maybe he got it shortly after we switched. Well, there's one problem he probably understands now.

Harry went through his morning problem-free. He put on his Snape act and no one gave him weird looks, proof that his acting was good. He knew he wouldn't see the fifth-years today and sat down to lunch, his mind on his situation. Thus far, it wasn't so bad being Snape, apart from being an unpopular teacher. But, then he had been whispered about and pointed at it this years as people believed he was a lying, crazy show-off, so this was a welcome change.

Harry returned to Snape's office to grade some essays before his next class. He was in the middle of one when a burst of flame appeared near the ceiling making him jump. A roll of parchment landed on the desk and he picked it up, opened it, and saw it was an invitation to see Dumbledore after dinner tonight. He probably wants to ask me how I'm doing, he thought.

"Good evening, Harry. I trust your day has been okay."

"Yes, sir. It still feels weird, though." Harry put a hand to his throat to empathize a point.

Dumbledore chuckled lightly. "I don't doubt that. There is much I want to discuss and now is an excellent time with Umbridge making sure students are not out past curfew.

"First, I can look at you and talk freely while you're in Severus' body since there's no scar connecting you to Voldemort. You see, it's because of this connection that I haven't looked at you for months. I was concerned that Voldemort would make use of the connection by using you to spy on me. This is why it's necessary for you to learn Occlumency, even now."

"Now?" Harry repeated. It's necessary right now while I'm in Snape's body?

"Yes. You know Severus is pretending to be loyal to Voldemort in order to spy on him, yes? If Voldemort decided to call on Severus before you switch back, it would be you he gets and if he performs Legilimency and learns what happened, both you and Severus will likely be killed.

"Severus risks his life to spy on Voldemort to help us delay his attempt to seize power. One such delay to prevent him from seizing a prophecy. A prophecy to do with you and him. Tell me: Have you had any dreams that made no sense to you?"

"Yes. I've had dreams for month of walking down a corridor that ends in a locked black door."

"Ah, that door leads to the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry. Within that Department is a room called The Hall of Prophecy. I fear that Voldemort would use the connection between you to try and lure you there because prophecies can only be removed by people for whom they are made."

"Why does he want it?"

"He believes it holds the key to destroying you. He also wants to understand why his attack on you as a baby failed. No doubt you've wondered a little as well as why he attacked you in the first place." Harry nodded. "Fortunately the prophecy was made to me so I can reveal it to you and thus you will not be tricked into going to the Ministry."

Harry left Dumbledore's office feeling stunned, but satisfied in knowing why he had those dreams, why Occlumency was necessary, why Dumbledore haven't looked at him for months, and that Snape risked his life by spying on Voldemort. I didn't know that Snape risked his life to spy on Voldemort, that it could be really dangerous. Snape must be extremely skilled at Occlumency if he can lie to Voldemort and get away with it as Snape has said that Voldemort is an accomplished Legilimens. I could respect Snape if I knew why he hates me. I can't ask him, but I would like to know.

Snape stared at the back of his right hand. There were white marks there, spelling out the words I must not tell lies. How did those get on his skin? He doubted Harry put them there himself, as it would be painful. So, how?

Weasley leaned over to look at his hand. "That was an evil thing Umbridge made you do. All 'cause you said You-Know-Who's back."

"Yeah," Snape muttered as he returned to his Care of Magical Creatures homework. So, that's what happened. I had no idea what her detentions were like. That is pure evil. I'm all for giving Potter detention, but even I wouldn't resort to having the skin cut open and scar.

Snape finished his Magical Creatures homework and was about to start his Divination one when Weasley whispered, "So, Harry. When's the next D.A. meeting?"

Snape looked up, bewildered. "I'm sorry, what?"

"The D.A. When's the next meeting?"

"I-I don't know." What did Potter forget to tell me? Snape wondered. Is it some kind of secret club; a violation of Educational Decree Number Twenty-four, I believe. I need to speak to Potter and find out everything I need to know if I'm going to act like him.