An: You have Yen to thank for the legibility of this and for the nod towards Snarry. Those two liked her.

Also, I wish to say that this one is being released monthlyish dependent on RL events, and that it is mostly complete at 15 chapters, with the possibility of an epilogue.

Remember to pay attention to the scene breakers:the ones like this – ō.ō&ö.ö – denotes a dream sequence, the ones like this – Ò.Ô&Ő.Ő– denotes a time when they are awake, and now we have a new one! Yep, upping the ante. Ò.Ô& ö.ö – denotes daydreaming.

Doing the Impossible, Again

ō.ō&ö.ö

"I had another of those unwanted dreams last night." Harold dropped onto the sofa and stared at the fireplace.

"Did you succeed in blocking it or getting out of it once you knew what was happening?" Severus asked, watching him closely.

"I got out and followed the connection right back to myself. It is connected to the scar like I thought. I have my shields placed so they are back far enough not to include this," Harold said, gesturing to the lightning bolt on his forehead. "but he seemed to be able to slip under them, or through them, just like I can yours."

When scared green eyes turned to look at Severus, he could see the hope buried deep in them. "I don't know how to stop him, Harold. Occlumency was the only thing I could think of. There are no hints on how to handle this type of situation for a Dreamwalker in the book." He watched a crestfallen expression take over Harold's face. "I'll see what I can find out over the summer break."

Harold sighed and curled up on the sofa, his eyelids drooping. "One way those dreams are different, they are not refreshing to the mind. I am exhausted from it. I wish I could just sleep here and not worry about another nightmare."

Severus managed to stop himself from echoing Harold's words. "You always leave when you fall asleep, Harold. You've never stayed past that," he said, regret colouring his voice. He watched as the green eyes snapped open.

"I did, one time. Remember? I went to sleep next to you, trying not to while I waited for you to come out of your dream."

They stared at each other for a moment, the memory of the erotic dream Severus had enjoyed floating between them. Then Harold bit his lip and glanced away.

"I was still here when you did. Maybe that is what I need to do. Shall we test it?"

Severus continued staring, wishing he knew the teen's thoughts. He didn't want his private dreams witnessed again, but the hope in that face won the over his doubt. "Give it a shot. I'm going to bed, you are too mentally tired to study tonight anyway. Night, Harold."

Standing up, he summoned a green pillow and blanket and passed them over to his guest before going inside his bedroom. Hopefully, he wouldn't have any erotic dreams tonight.

The next morning, Severus realized Harold's test was a positive one. During the dream stage just before waking up, he walked into his front room to find Harold rolling over on the sofa. Bending over, he shook the teen. "Wake up, Harold."

As soon as those words left his mouth, he shook his head over the choice of words, but those green eyes opened.

"I'm still here." Harold smiled up at Severus. "And not one nightmare. They've been almost nightly, but there were none last night. Thanks for letting me stay."

A smaller hand caught Severus one and squeezed it. Severus smiled, returning the squeeze before straightening up. Squashing down a wish to run his fingers through the messy hair, he stepped back to allow Harold to get up instead. "You are welcome."

ō.ō&ö.ö

"I can't believe the Pink Toad did that!" Harold paced about, following the edges of the small carpet between the two armchairs.

"Pink Toad?" Severus leaned against the back of the sofa. "You mean the Worse-Than-Idiotic-Defence Professor? I think we will keep your nickname, it's short and to the point and doesn't make me think of your second year's Vain Pot professor. The Pink Toad has pulled so much power to herself, I am surprised she hasn't had herself named Headmistress, so I am not in the least surprised she dismissed your old Divination Professor."

Harold stopped and stared at Severus. "Do you honestly think she can oust the Headmaster?"

"I don't know, Harold, but I wouldn't put it past her. She keeps making these decrees about everything. I am surprised the study groups survived her Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four."

Harold shook his head. He hadn't succeeded in staying on the Quidditch team even after Gryffindor was given permission to fly again. Sometimes he truly hated the Blond Prat, but the study groups might be one thing he could begrudgingly thank him for. The very morning the Prat had received permission for the Slytherin Quidditch team to play, he had also managed to get all the study groups approved. "I guess the Dark One agrees with his future followers learning something."

"I think you might be right. He certainly would not be happy with the Pink Toad's method of teaching."

"Do you think the new Divination Teacher will be better, or at least as good?" Harold continued his pacing. "I don't want to do poorly on my OWLs in the subject, no matter that I am not gifted in it at all. It wouldn't be fair to you. You put in a lot of work to get me to this point in this class."

"I still think you should have taken Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, but this was your choice, so you have to do well at it."

Harold nodded. "I understand that, and that is your sideways manner of declaring I need to study. I'll get to it."

Dropping to the rug, he set his books out on the table. "I'll do the potions essay later, do you want to see the Defence one?"

Severus moved to his seat and held out his hand. "I might as well see what she has assigned now."

Ò.Ô& ö.ö

Severus did his best not to let his expression show he had felt the invasion. Not an invasion truly, Harold was invited into his mind at any time, but this was the first time he had done this while he was awake.

Casting a glance about his classroom, he made sure he had a moment to focus elsewhere. The second years were doing fine, so he thought loudly. "Harold! What do you think you are doing?"

"Umm-m, testing an idea?" Harold's sheepish voice was a quiet echo in his head.

"You must know I am in class. Teaching. What idea is this?"

"If I can travel into your mind while you are awake." There was a pause before Harold's voice continued, sounding almost happy. "I guess I can."

"Are you not in a class? I am positive you should be. That means you should not be sleeping." Severus could feel the frown in his voice trying to make its appearance on his face. He knew Harry could hear it from the moment of silence before the teen answered.

"I'm in History, and I am not quite asleep, I am daydreaming. I figured I should put Binns' class to some use instead of just the normal napping. I know you napped through his class also."

"The book didn't mention anything about daydreaming travelling." Severus did his best to keep his surprise hidden, but doubted he succeeded. Miss Mathis was giving him a strange look from her place in the second row.

"It didn't mention time-travel either, so I was curious and gave it a try. We both know I'm not missing anything important."

Heaving a mental sigh, Severus answered. "Make sure you read your book for the class. I have to return to teaching."

"I will," was the last thing Severus heard before he focused back on his classroom.

ō.ō&ö.ö

"Evening, Severus." Harold curled up on the sofa that was currently doubling as his bed. "Did you know the Half-Giant brought his half-brother home with him to stay? The brother is hanging out in the Forbidden Forest."

Severus stopped partway to his seat and turned to stare at Harold. "And you would know this… how?"

"I got to meet him today. The Half-Giant was worried he might have to leave in a hurry, or be the next to be dismissed by the Pink Toad. He wanted the Trio of Joy to know so we could go visit him on occasions and such."

"The Trio of Pain is going to be in a lot of pain if I catch them slipping into the Forest unsupervised." Severus folded his arms across his chest and looked down at Harold with a raised eyebrow. He wasn't surprised when his friend just tipped his head back to look at him.

"And just how am I supposed to invite you to come along?" A cheeky undertone had crept into Harold's voice, matching the almost smile in his eyes.

Severus shook his head and leaned against Harold's seat, nudging his arm against Harry's shoulder. "Send me a dream, and I'll trail close enough to know you are fine if anything happens. Books and Red too."

ō.ō&ö.ö

"So, if Pink Toad can get rid of teachers based on incompetency, can we get rid of her? Better yet, how about the endorsement and use of torturous devices during detentions?" Harold glared at the fireplace so as not to glare at Severus.

The words 'torturous devices' made Severus jerk forward.

"What is she using during detentions?" he demanded.

Harold looked down at the back of his right hand, remembering his first week of detention and the several he had received since then. The Pink Toad was trying to rival Snape's detention record. He had tried not to give her a reason, but it didn't matter; he turned a page too loud, he got detention. "She makes you write lines with a very sharp quill that doesn't require ink. The words you write are carved into the back of your hand and appear on the parchment written in your blood."

Feeling his face turn pale, Severus jumped up from his seat and rushed over to Harold. He grabbed both his hands, turning them towards the firelight and searching for any marks. There, faintly inscribed on the back of Harold's right hand were the words I must not tell lies.

Anger started to boil inside him. Part of that anger was directed at himself. He had noticed the number of detentions Potter was receiving, and he knew just how cruel that woman was. He should have checked earlier – both him and Harold were known to hide their injuries. They had been doing so since they first started meeting. "Does she use this on everyone she gives detention?"

When Harold nodded yes, Severus gave a grim nod, turning his anger towards building a plan. He ran his thumb gently over the marks before releasing Harry's hand, an evil pleased smile filling his face.

Ò.Ô& ö.ö

"Severus!" Harold paced about, his steps leading him around in small circles around Snape's desk as he waited to be answered. He knew that if nothing else, Severus would scold him.

"Harold, what are you doing here? You are supposed to be taking you History of Magic OWL right now. Not daydreaming."

Harold leaned back against Severus' desk with his arms folded and talked towards the classroom ceiling where Severus' voice was coming from. His words came out in a rush, his fear evident in each one. "I have a splitting headache and a dream pushed through. The Dark One is showing me that my Godfather is in his grasp at the Ministry. He is torturing him and is going to kill him."

"Where are you right now?" The question was barked at him, but Harold found he didn't care.

"The Infirmary. Professor Tofty ordered me to come here. I didn't finish my test. Do you think they will allow me to retake it?" It was an inane question compared to Sirius' safety, but at that moment the answer would mean one more thing off of his mind.

"Talk to Madam Pomfrey about excusing you for this one so you can retake it. I will go right now to check on your Godfather. Stay where you are! No Gryffindor heroics this year, do you hear me?"

Laughing mirthlessly, Harold nodded before he realized that Severus couldn't see him. "I'll stay here. Last year ended with someone dead, I would hate to know what this one will bring if I act as normal. Can I stay here with you as you go check?"

"Are you safe?"

"Already tucked in my bed, fussed over by Madam Pomfrey, and potions drunk."

"Headache Reliever? Then you may."

Sagging in relief, Harold sat in one of the empty classroom chairs and waited.

Ò.Ô& ö.ö

Severus tapped the mirror's glass three times and waited for a response. Eventually, Black appeared in the frame.

While Black was making his mandatory derogatory remarks, Severus took a moment to think inwards. "Harold, come out to the hedge shield so you can see what is going on."

He forced himself not to remove the presence travelling through his mind while he focused back out. "If you are finished with your childishness, Black, I called to make sure you have not been foolish enough to leave your house and follow the Dark Lord into the Ministry. I see that for once you have used your brain and remained put."

"Why would you think I would be in the Ministry? I have no reason to be, and I certainly wouldn't follow that Monster there." Black's answer was spat out.

"Potter dreamed you were that foolish, and I am verifying for him that you are not. Do your best to remain where you are. I will alert Albus of the situation."

"Harry dreamed that!? I thought those lessons were supposed to stop that! How is my Godson?" Black calmed down slightly as he waited on an answer.

"He is currently in the Infirmary, sleeping. This way the little imbecile won't cause anyone harm, especially to himself. The lessons helped some as long as he practised. Studying and remembering the lessons I taught him might have been too much for his feeble intelligence." The sneer was clear in his tone. "Now I must visit Albus."

The mirror went blank, reflecting Severus' face back at him. Putting it back into its locked case, he slid the case into its hiding place.

"He is safe, you do not need to run off to complete some unknown heroic adventure."

Harold sagged against the hedge. "Thank you for checking, Severus. I know you could have just told the Headmaster and he would have checked." Straightening up, he looked out into the raging vortex. "How are you going to explain to the Headmaster that you know what I saw?"

Severus' steps paused for a moment before he continued making his way to Albus' office. 'Were you escorted to the Infirmary?"

"No, Tofty told me to go and I did. We can say I stopped by your office and then you sent me on my way to see Madam Pomfrey."

"And why would you have you left so easily? You are stubborn about getting information. Also, why did you come to me instead of the Headmaster?"

"You because the Headmaster has been avoiding me this year and I knew you would be in your office. I mean, when are you not in your office." Harold knew the clueless tone his last sentence was said in would make Severus' smirk just so he wouldn't smile. "I obeyed because you threatened to deduct a hundred points from Gryffindor and then pointed out that Professor Tofty would be checking with Pomfrey when I arrived at the Infirmary."

Severus nodded as he mounted the stairs to the Headmaster's office. "Good reasons. If the Headmaster asks, remember them. Now, do NOT talk or move."

He waited just a moment before he opened the door.

"Severus, my dear boy, what is happening?" The twinkle in the blue eyes faded as they took in Severus' expression.

"Potter had another dream. The Dark Lord sent him a false vision of Black being tortured in the Department of Mysteries."

Albus checked two of the devises set around his office. "Oh dear. Have you checked on Sirius? Did Harry run off to the Ministry?"

Severus shook his head. "Yes and no. I checked on Black, he is still at his home. As for Potter, he is currently sleeping in the Infirmary, recovering from his headache. You may wish to see if there are Death Eaters at the Ministry."

"Thank you, Severus. I will send someone to check on the status of the Ministry. Will you let Potter know that Black is still at Headquarters?"

Severus gave a curt nod and walked out of the office, striding towards the Infirmary. "Okay, Harold. Now off with you, back to your mind and get some sleep."

Harold walked back into the classroom and curled up in the chair. "It would be safer to stay here. The Dark One can't reach me."

Knowing his friend was right, Severus sighed. "Then let me make you more comfortable."

The classroom melted into his living-room and the chair Harold was in, his sofa.

Ò.Ô&Ő.Ő

"Professor Tofty, thank you for letting me retake the exam." Harry waited next to the classroom door with a small group of other students who had missed the History of Magic OWL exam.

"Illness is a valid reason to miss an exam, Mr. Potter. If you knew you were coming down with something, you should have not attended the testing session, but just reported to Madam Pomfrey. That is true for your NEWTs as well."

Opening the door, the test proctor allowed the testers into the room. "Now, find a seat and let's get started."

As he entered the room, Harry spotted Snape coming down the hall. Taking a moment, he watched as the robes flared behind the Potions Master. He could tell Snape was heading somewhere and by the evil expression filling his face, he was particularly pleased with what he had to do. Hoping it had nothing to do with him, Harry moved towards his seat. He glanced back at the door just in time to see Snape stride past.

When Snape passed the room where Potter was, he controlled the urge to flash Harold a smile. He kept the smirk on his face by sheer force. He would talk to the teen later that evening.

His steps took him up the stairs and as he travelled, Minerva and Filius had fallen in step with him. 'Evil expressions just do not look right on their faces.'

Their steps ended at Umbridge's office door. Minerva opened it without knocking; Umbridge might be the High Inquisitor, but McGonagall was still the Deputy Headmistress and thus, allowed entry into all offices unannounced.

Umbridge looked up from her desk that was covered with a multitude of files. "What is the meaning of this interruption?"

Filius flicked his wand and a black quill with a razor sharp point flew out of the desk and hovered near his hands. "This little item is the meaning."

Severus pulled out the envelope Albus had given him and held it open so Filius could deposit the quill into it. He tapped it once with his wand to seal it and once more before handing it to Minerva who also tapped it with her wand. Filius tapped the envelope as well.

Handing a slip of parchment to Umbridge, Severus gave his evillest smile. "You are hereby confined to this room and your quarters. You should not attempt to leave them or dire consequences will befall you."

The three Professors watched as the increasingly bewildered High Inquisitor flipped open the parchment and read the notice of investigation.

"What utter rubbish! I refuse to be-"

"Umbridge." The three voices uttering her name interrupted her and she looked up. With curt nods, Severus, Minerva and Filius spun around and left her office.

Two minutes later, they reached the Headmaster's office. Filius handed the envelope to Albus. "Severus delivered the letter. The tracking charm is now in place."

Kingsley Shacklebolt accepted the evidence envelope from Albus. "Good. If she breaks the charm, she will immediately be arrested. This quill will be examined and the results used to tell us how to proceed in this case."

He gestured toward the two other aurors beside him. "These gentlemen will stay here just in case she attempts to flee or cause any harm to the children. We should have the results by this evening."

As Shacklebolt left the office, Snape decided he was once again glad that the curse on the Defence position had taken effect. He was looking forward to updating Harold tonight.