Merlin paced back and forth inside his chambers. It had been a few days since Harry had lost control and threw a spell at him. Merlin knew that Harry hadn't meant to, that it had been a reaction to being surprised by a touch.
But that was no excuse for how he acted. He had seen Harry's temper flare a few times before. Harry had a temper, younger people usually did. But never had Harry snapped and hurled around destructive spells during one of their lessons. (Merlin did have to proudly admit that Harry's spell-casting seemed stronger then they had when they started).
So why? Why the rage that had consumed his features? Why the anger that had amplified his spells into blowing apart most of the room by using a simple spell taught in third year? Something just seemed wrong.
Merlin sighed sitting down. It most likely was just Harry's temper. He had to remember that Harry was still only a teenager, prone to imbalances just as he had gone through many lifetimes ago. Not everything was a conspiracy.
~0o0~
Harry drearily drifted in between classes. Both Hermione and Ron pestered him, asking what was wrong. Harry insisted that he was just coming down with something. Both of his friends had frowned at him and he got the impression that neither believed him.
Harry sighed refocusing on Professor Mcgonagall in time to hear the days instructions, researching human anatomy. They had been slowly researching human transfiguration, similar to what Krum had done in Harry's fourth year. Reaching forward, Harry grabbed his book and started to flip to chapter 3; The Lungs. Harry started to read before losing himself in his thoughts once again.
Tonight was the night he was supposed to head to the Room of Requirements for the next training session. He didn't know if Emrys would be show up. But Harry would be.
~0o0~
Harry shuffled around his bed, preparing to go. Usually he side-stepped Ron and Hermione and pretended that he went to bed early. Sneaking down the staircase Harry found both of them with their arms crossed staring at him.
"Going somewhere?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah – I - uh." Harry started.
"Come on mate, stop lying to us, we know you haven't been going to bed early, we let you be, but now that your acting like this –" Ron said
"We're worried about you Harry." Hermione said her eyes pleading.
Harry sighed, contemplating. He didn't really want to tell them. He was afraid Ron would get angry because he was getting special treatment. A small part of him selfishly just wanted Emrys to himself but he quickly quashed the thought.
"Look. Guys, I appreciate your concern, but I really got to go, I have a detention."
"With who?" Hermione asked, her eyes narrowing.
"Snape." Harry sighed.
Ron shook his head. "Slimy bastard."
Harry nodded, smiling at Ron.
"I got to get going, sorry guys."
Harry hurriedly brushed past them, hoping by Hermione's suspicious stare after him that she wouldn't dig too deep into it.
~0o0~
Merlin sat in the Room of Requirements quietly thinking. It was the day Harry was supposed to show up for lessons, but Merlin wasn't sure if he would. If he didn't, Merlin would be sure to seek out and talk to him.
Getting up, Merlin started to pace again. If Harry did show up, they would be having a very different lesson today. It was time to see if anyone had bothered to teach Harry in matters of the mind.
The door to the room slowly swung open and Harry nervously walked in, shutting and sealing the door behind him.
Merlin smiled , glad to see that Harry had decided to come up and face him.
"Harry." Merlin said, inclining his head.
"Hello Professor." Harry said his voice strained.
"Come on Harry, I think we have a few things to talk about."
Harry looked up, a surprised expression on his face. Merlin smiled, rolling his eyes.
"You expected to me be angry, and not be willing to teach you anymore didn't you?"
Harry lowered his head again.
"Yes Professor."
"I am not angry Harry, you are still young, and I expect mistakes from you. Now come on, let's sit and talk. And stop calling me Professor."
Harry smiled and followed Merlin over to one of the tables.
"Now then, would you like to explain why you got so upset and started cursing the room into oblivion?"
Harry chuckled a little before looking downcast again.
"I – I'm not sure. I tried to silently cast Stupefy, and – well this sounds stupid but Snape's face entered my mind. I had an argument with him earlier in the day. He just taunted me in my head, and – It was like a voice or – something just compelled me to lose control. I just felt – angry. It was like I was barely controlling myself. I – I don't know what happened Emrys. I've never felt like this before."
Merlin sat back at puzzled expression on his face.
"Harry, has anything similar to this ever happened before. Strange feelings, sensations – dreams?"
Harry's eyes shot up to his.
"Dreams then. What happened Harry?"
Harry hesitated and closed his eyes.
"Sometimes – Sometimes I have dreams where I am him. Where I stand in a dark room lording over others. Sometimes I dream that I – that I torture them. Death Eaters that is. "
Merlin's eyes widened before cursing himself. He should of suspected something like this!
"Harry. When you went to the Ministry. Did you receive a vision?"
Harry meekly looked down before hoarsely whispering.
"Yes."
Merlin nodded. He had thought that Harry had found out about the prophecy and impulsively rushed to find out what it meant. This revelations however shattered all of Merlin's previous assumptions.
Merlin sighed, leaning forward and clasping his hands together.
"Harry, when two wizards go through an extreme amount of trauma at the hands of each other, a permanent bridge, or link to each other. I believe this has formed between you and Voldemort on the night that you killed him. Although you have a natural temper, your connection with him would allow some of his hatred to bleed into you."
Harry look astonished before asking him:
"How do I stop it?"
Merlin laughed. "Well that's the fun part; Occlumency "
Harry's face morphed into horror before he shook his head.
"Professor Snape tried to teach me last year sir."
Merlin was surprised.
"He did? How did it go?"
Harry looked at him pointedly.
"There's a reason I said tried."
Merlin laughed, shaking his head.
"Well, let's go over the material first, what did Snape cover?"
"He mostly just invaded my mind and yelled that I wasn't trying hard enough, oh and to clear my mind."
Merlin raised his eyebrows.
"That's – Well, that's one way to attempt to teach it. However I will be teaching it slightly differently. First, let's start off with your mind, or as many people call it, your mind-scape. Now most people's mind-scape is simply a jumble of memories, imagine flickering screens swirling around in your head. One way to do it is to conceal your memories, imagining a black void so that your attacker simply sees nothing. This is how Professor Snape taught you, obviously this isn't the best method, although the best known one."
Harry nodded.
"So how are you going to teach me Emrys?"
Merlin smiled.
"You're going to build your mind-scape into something different. It's going to be a hard process, but ultimately it should help you control your connection with Voldemort, and help you better control your emotions."
Harry smiled, the excitement back in his eyes.
"Let's get started."
~0o0~
Harry stumbled back up into his dorm, his mind exhausted. Emrys had showed him several methods to help restructure his mind and it had ultimately left him dizzy.
He felt like he had accomplished something however, unlike Snape's training. He sighed as he stumbled up this room and blearily collapsed on to his bed.
~0o0~
Harry sat coldly on this make-shift throne. It was the dead of night and a worthless servant lay bowed at his feet.
"Speak." He muttered annoyed with the idiot below him.
"My lord, the icy one is here. You asked me to fetch you if he -"
"Get him."
"Yes my lord."
The servant scuttled out of the room loudly banging the doors behind him. Harry made a mental note to Crucio the idiot as soon as possibly. He impatiently sat before deciding to stand to make a formidable impression. It would not be due for his... ally, to see him idle.
Another servant came crashing into the hall with another man trailing behind him. Harry studied his ally. His piercing snowy blue eye's had the Death Eaters nickname him "Icy One." Harry had tortured the idiots when he had heard.
"Hello "My Lord." The man said mockingly walking up to him and shaking his hand. Harry flinched, backing away.
"Is it free yet?" He asked coldly.
"No, not yet, but soon."
Harry smiled cruelly, allowing himself one brief moment of joy.
"And then, Harry Potter and Leon Emrys will be dead at my feet."
The man scowled losing his cheerful demeanor.
"That wasn't the deal. You can have Harry Potter. I will take Mer – Emrys's life."
Harry studied the man for a moment.
"Very well."
~0o0~
"And this man – what did he look like?"
"He – he had black hair and pale skin. He wore a black coat. But his eyes. His eyes were like ice."
Merlin sat back frowning.
"And you say he threatened to kill me?"
Harry sighed before sitting back.
"Yeah. He promised my life to Voldemort's. Voldemort insisted on killing you but the man insisted that you were his. What did you do to tick him off?"
Merlin shook his head.
"I don't know. But we better continue to practice. It looks like we're both are going to need it now more than ever."
Harry nodded smiling before standing up and starting to stride over to the dueling ring before turning around for a moment.
"Although something did strike me as odd."
"Oh?" Merlin asked.
"Yeah, your name, he called you Emrys, but before that. It sounded like he said "Mer" or something before correcting himself. Do you know what that means?"
Merlin froze shell shocked. That was impossible. Icy eyes, black hair and pale skin.
"Emrys?"
Merlin shook his head before smiling.
"Sorry, lost in thought. No I don't know, probably just a slip of the tongue. Now come on, we need to practice Occlumency during battle."
Harry groaned before continuing to walk over to the dueling ring. Merlin started to stand staring off into space before shaking his head and muttering.
"He's dead. Harry must have been mistaken."
A/N: Hey Guys! Looks like most people really liked the ending of the last chapter. I hope you guys don't mind the tacked on bit at the end of Harry's vision. I was originally going to do it at the beginning of chapter 7 but I felt it fit at the end of chapter 6 as it wasn't that long.
To Mr. Guest Reviewer: Spot on sir, Spot on.
So to discuss a few things that I can see being asked:
No, Merlin doesn't know that Harry is a horcrux, he assumes that both Voldemort and Harry were simply linked when Harry was a baby.
Harry's temper is being amplified by his connection with Voldemort but he does still have a moderate temper of his own. And Voldemort's connection isn't the only reason why his anger is amplified ;).
Most people can probably guess by now who the "Icy One" is, but if you cant, don't worry it will be revealed at some point.
Well that wraps up most of what I wanted to say, Ill see you guys next time. (And maybe a bit sooner.)
A/N(2)
This chapter is going up a little later then I intended due to the fact that I couldn't find it and thought I had accidentally deleted it. Luckily I found it again!