An: 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 Ò.Ô& ö.ö – denotes daydreaming.
Many thanks to Yen who opted to work on this one. Her time is a precious thing and I truly appreciate it being spent making this that much more understandable.
Connections
Ò.Ô&Ő.Ő
Harry watched Snape trudge up the stairs, heading for his lab, while the rest of them walked to the kitchen for lunch. Ron and Hermione grinned at each other and Harry did his best to look like he wasn't feeling all that well.
Not sure how the spell would react if he ate heavily, he made sure to eat a small meal, telling Sirius he just didn't feel hungry. As soon as he could, he slipped away and after grabbing his cloak, headed up the stairs to join Snape in the lab.
Harold lowered his cloak as he walked into the lab area. "If the Rat is keeping you from sleeping well, you could crash in my room for a while."
When Severus' eyes widened, Harold realised what his statement sounded like, but he refused to take back or even explain his offer.
Gesturing towards a wing backed chair against the wall of trunks, Severus asked, "Why do you think I am not sleeping?"
"The way you trudged up the stairs earlier. It shouted tiredness, or is it about the dangers of breaking the connection?" Harold draped his cloak over the chair that Severus indicated before turning back to him, noting the tenseness in Severus' shoulders. "Not good, eh?"
Severus waved his wand and shifted a tall wardrobe over to block the entrance before he spoke. "There is only one spell that has any chance of breaking the connection. Our luck in holding, and we are going to pray that yours is too."
Harold sighed. "Which means I am to hope my luck that keeps me alive lets me live through this." He stopped speaking when Severus shook his head before tipping his head in the direction of another chair set in the middle of the lab.
"Which means we hope the next series of diagnostic spells shows you will live through it, if not, then we shall not be proceeding."
"Got it." Harold moved to the indicated seat, which he noticed was conveniently high enough that he could comfortably look into Severus' face. "Let's get going."
Nodding, Severus glanced back at the pink book before approaching Harold, his wand drawn. "I need you to do nothing at this moment."
When Harold nodded, Severus cast three spells in succession and then returned to the book. After a minute of reading, he turned around and leaned against the counter. "Your luck is holding. We can cast this."
He shook his head at Harold's exaggerated sigh of relief. "You must now pay attention." He waited until the green eyes were focused on him. "I doubt the Dark One or even the Headmaster knows of this curse. It is as dark a piece of magic as you can get. It is designed to break any connection by any means possible – even if it means the death of one or all of the things connected. There may be some residue left of the connection in your head. Your mind will assimilate it and it will become part of you. This has the potential of changing your entire personality, what you know, what you think, what you remember. There is also a chance that you will get physically ill. Are you still willing to do this?"
Harold's gaze didn't waver.
"Do you think it will affect what I know or my memories?" he asked. "My personality changing, way of thinking … that can all be passed off as teenage hormones and growing up. The other two will be hard to cover up. I can handle being sick."
Severus looked down at his wand, running the smooth wood through his fingers as he thought about Harold's question. Given what he thought was lodged in Harold's head, he could only see memories and knowledge being added. His main concern was Harold gaining part of the Dark Lord's personality. "I don't think you will lose any knowledge or memories because this connection has been with you since you were little. The main concern I have is the darkness of the connection might warp your personality."
"I'll figure it out, Severus. Go ahead and cast it. I want you to do this."
Searching Harold's face, he nodded. "Very well then. Before I cast the spell, you are going to occlude as hard as you can, making sure the connection is outside of your shields. You will not attempt to step outside your mind, not once. No matter what you feel is happening. Then you shall remain tightly occluded and head downstairs to take a bath in this purifying potion." He held up a beaker of clear liquid. "It will help remove the stink of Dark Magic off of you. Once you have returned to your room, you shall take this potion," he held up a green vial, "and only then can you stop occluding. This one will help with the assimilation of the remnants."
Severus paused, waiting to see if Harold had any questions. When none were forth coming, he continued. "This curse will cause you to have a major headache since that is where the connection is. If you feel sick anywhere else, you must let me know immediately. Just make a ruckus and I will hear about it. I will stay here tonight late working on the Headmaster's potion. Do you have anything that you are curious about before we start?"
In a tone laced with worry, Harold asked, "Is it going to just target the connection to the Dark One? I don't know how I am connected to you, can it take that one out unintentionally?"
Severus thought long and hard before answering. "It might. Does that make you reconsider?"
Shaking his head, Harold leaned forward and rested a hand on Severus' arm, enjoying the ability to touch him while they were awake. "If you allow me to, I will just forge another connection with you."
Rolling his eyes, Severus rested his hand on top of Harold's. "Of course you can, but you are not allowed to test it until I tell you to go ahead."
"Okay. If you are ready, then I am." Harold settled back into the seat, his eyes unfocused as he stared at the trunks.
"Occlude tightly now." Severus waited a moment before testing the shield that surrounded Harold's mind. "Now, I want you to focus completely on the inside of your shields. You are not to react to a single thing that is happening. Not until you hear me call your name."
He paused to give Harold a chance to do as he asked. Heavy lids fell over the bright green eyes that he hoped would not change because of this spell. Oh, he knew the colour would remain green, but he was very afraid of the shadows that might creep into them. 'It won't matter, he will still be Harold.'
He raised his wand, placing the tip just above the lightning bolt scar. He moved his wand along the path of the mark without truly touching it and then spiralled out until he was able to circle the entire area where the contamination was. Stretching his senses, he picked out the malignant mass of energy that seemed to be reaching out to touch something else. 'This is definitely the cause of the connection between them. I hope I have the energy to break it.'
Shaking the doubts from his mind, Severus pointed his wand at the bottom of the lightning bolt, he focused completely on the desired outcome. "Diruo."
A clear blue ice formed around the tip of an almost invisible thread of energy emerging from the scar.
Under his scar, a mass of darkness showed, shooting up towards the ice and then rapidly back, slamming into Harold's Occlumency shield. It rebounded back towards the ice that was starting to dip into the scar. Holding his wand steady, Severus pushed more energy out of himself and into the ice so that he could manoeuvre it carefully. If he was not working on a living thing, then he would not have to expend this much power, but Harold was worth it. Harold was worth all the energy he could give.
Manipulating the ice, Severus surrounded the darkness that was not Harold, but it was not easy as it kept trying to escape, moving here and there, but mostly battering Harold's shields. Once Severus was sure that he had surrounded it all, he gave one last push of energy.
A bright green light flashed, the same hue as the Killing Curse, and then the ice shattered, fading out of sight before it touched the ground. There was no trace of the darkness.
Casting a purification charm, a much stronger one than he had used last time, Severus looked into the unfocused green eyes that were fluttering open. He tried to push his worry down.
"Harold." The name came out no louder than a whisper. There was no response. Severus whispered the name once more and with bated breath, waited again. Surely Harold's shields had held. They had to. If not, there was a chance his Harold would never be the same.
Green eyes slowly focused on him. After a moment, a small reassuring smile slipped onto Harold's face.
"That was the strangest and scariest spell I've ever experienced. I think I am all right though, Severus."
A sigh of relief slipped from Severus' lips as he pulled Harold into his arms. He hugged him tightly and pressed the messy black head against his chest. "Go take your bath, get settled in bed and then take your potion. Don't forget to release your shield then."
Harold snuggled into the warm chest his cheek was pressed against before leaning back. He then patted his pocket where the potions were located. Standing slowly, he made sure he had his balance before looking at Severus. "Thank you. I know no one else would have done this for me, Severus."
Flicking his wand to move the wardrobe, Severus nodded. "You are welcome. Let's see if you still thank me over the next few days."
Harold stopped and glanced over his shoulder. "No matter the outcome, I truly appreciate it."
At Severus' raised eyebrow, he wrapped the cloak tightly around him before heading down the stairs and slipping into the bathroom. Making sure not to rush too much, he scrubbed down and then headed for bed. Downing the green potion quickly, he stopped occluding and curled under the covers.
Not two minutes later, he was wondering if he was allowed to take anything for his headache. The dull throbbing that had been there once the spell was complete had turned into sharp pains streaking their way from one side of his skull to the other. When his stomach started to rebel, he pounded as loudly as he could on the wall that connected his room to Hermione's. Severus had said to make a ruckus.
Ron and Hermione bolted through his door, their eyes widening when they took in the sight of his face, scrunched in pain and the paleness of his skin.
"Harry, mate, what is the matter?" Ron rushed over, running a quick look over Harry before checking the condition of the lightning bolt scar. He was relieved it was not inflamed.
Harry curled up into a tight ball as he answered. "I wasn't feeling well at lunch, and now... now my stomach aches and my head feels like it's splitting in two."
Hermione ran out the door, looking for someone to help. She didn't know where the potions cupboard was in this house. Rushing into the kitchen, she spotted Mrs. Weasley and Sirius at the table. "Mrs. Weasley, Harry is sick. He says his stomach hurts and he has a headache."
Molly jumped up from the table, abruptly ending her conversation with Sirius. "I have to head home for the potions. Get a wet flannel for his head, that should help a bit. Does he have a fever?"
"I didn't check. Ron is with him right now." Hermione fretted with her hair.
"I'll go check on him and then run home." Molly was walking towards the door when Sirius spoke up.
"Get the potions from Snape. Dumbledore said he was here to provide what we needed." Walking out the door before Molly, he called back towards her. "I'll let him know he is needed."
They all quietly passed the curtained portrait and then rushed to their individual destinations.
Sirius slammed the attic door open and looked about. He had no clue where Snape's lab was up here, and didn't care to know either. Raising his voice, he yelled from the door. "Snivellus! Your potions are needed downstairs. Harry is sick with something, a bad headache and a stomach ache. Bring the potions and meet us in his room."
Spinning on his heel, Sirius headed off to his godson's room.
Severus almost cursed out loud when Black started yelling at him, but when he heard the reason, his blood ran cold. Of course their particular brand of luck would strike. One good thing - the connection breaking – had happened. Now, they would be cursed with twice as much bad luck as the good they had experienced, and he was worried what form it would take. 'I hope we won't regret this.' Grabbing the potion he had brewed at home just in case, he also picked up the ones Black asked for even though he knew he would not be administering them.
He took the stairs two at a time and only slowed down to his normal sweeping stride when he was near Harold's door. "I need to remember he is Potter right now.'
He was greeted by the sight of a tense Ronald Weasley sitting on the edge of Potter's bed talking to Molly.
"I don't know what is the matter, Mum, but I don't think this is a normal illness. His scar looks funny."
Blue eyes looked over at him before the teen continued.
"I think Professor Snape should look at him before we do anything else."
Severus could hear the distrust that laced those begrudging words. Sliding past Black, he was beside the bed before the mutt could comment. He looked into the pain-filled green eyes and fought to hide his emotions, knowing he had done this to Harold. Keeping his face blank, he cast a series of diagnostic spells.
"Black, please request Albus to come here immediately." He didn't notice the shocked look on Black's face as he carefully moved the wet flannel to see how the scar looked. It was now a thin silver line. He could still see the ice blue along the edge and hoped Albus would have no idea what that meant. He slid the flannel back into place.
No one moved or talked until Albus came into the room. "Severus, my dear boy, what have you discovered?"
Severus glanced quickly up at Albus before returning his attention to Harold. "Albus, a word." He gestured for the Headmaster to follow him out into the hall, but Albus shook his head.
"Everyone should be able to hear what is said." The bright blue eyes rested on Sirius before returning to Severus.
"Fine. I fear the Dark Lord has done something to sever his connection with Potter. The backlash is wreaking havoc on the boy. I wish you to double check my findings." Severus stepped back, letting Albus move into his spot.
Severus watched the brightness fade from those blue eye when they took in Harold's appearance, and then Albus cast a series of spells before turning back to the waiting group. "I fear you are right, Severus. I do not know what he used to break it with, or how it is going to affect young Harry. I need to ask you to stay here until we know that he is through the worst of this."
"Just what am I supposed to tell my watcher? Or the Dark Lord himself? Why am I staying here instead of at home?" The words were almost spat out, and Severus waited for Albus to come up with a reason since he could not.
Albus smiled softly. "The truth. That Harry is ill and I required you to be here to make his potions. Of course, you cannot poison, kidnap, or in any way damage the boy since you are under my watch."
Severus almost smiled at that ready reply, a thank you already on the tip of his tongue. The Dark Lord would accept that. "I need to go home to retrieve a potion that will help alleviate his symptoms – I will also bring the ingredients, since I will need to brew it again for the Dark Lord." He turned his attention to Molly. "Do not give Potter any other potions as they will react poorly with this one."
"Snape!" Sirius snapped out the name before he continued in a growl. "You are not going to give my godson some dark, illegal potion."
Severus sneered as Black moved to block the door. "The potion is neither, and it wouldn't matter if it was. It is the only thing that will help Potter. Would you rather he remains dangerously ill?"
He waited until Black snorted and moved away before sweeping out of the room. He wanted to give Harold the potion already, it was in his cloak, but he could not cast suspicion on either of them. Stepping outside the front door, he Apparated home, told Wormtail what had happened, gathered his ingredients and returned as quickly as he could.
He settled into a chair near Harold's bed after sending everyone else out. They had watched him administer the potion, and saw Harold uncurl in relief before settling into a restful sleep.
Spelling another layer of padding onto the chair, Severus prepared to watch the night through.
Ò.Ô&Ő.Ő
Morning came and Severus watched as Harold's eyes fluttered before opening. He was heartened by the brightening in them when they focused on him.
"Welcome back to the land of the living, Potter." He made sure to stress the name so that Harold would know how to address him.
"Snape... I mean Professor Snape. What happened?"
Severus could see the confusion in Harold's face. "No one knows for sure, but it appears as if the Dark Lord decided his connection to you was more of a liability than an asset. The Headmaster is trying to determine exactly what spell was used, but the connection between you and the Dark Lord is gone. You are currently suffering the backlash from the breaking of it."
There, Harold should be able to figure out the story he had told Albus from that summary.
"I thought you were the Dark Arts expert, why aren't you looking it up?"
Harold's tone was just on this side of respectful, though the derision when he said 'Dark Arts' came through loud and clear.
Severus raised an eyebrow. Harold's mind was working just fine since he was able to start playing the game that quickly. "The Headmaster felt my time was better spent making sure that you came through this unscathed, Potter." He leaned over and picked up a vial off the small table that was next to the bed. "This purple potion is the only one you can ingest until I tell you otherwise."
Harold nodded quickly and then grimaced. Standing up, Severus leaned forward to adjust the cool flannel and took that moment to speak softly where only Harold could hear him. "You can describe anything you wish to about how you experienced the spell, also, know your scar has changed slightly. It has faded and has a slight ice-blue outline. I don't know if anyone else has spotted the colour change."
Leaning back, he waited to see what Harold would do.
"I can't even take a potion for pain?" Harold asked in an aggrieved tone.
Severus shook his head no. "You need to sleep. I know that is a problem for one who thinks the night is for walking about, wandering from place to place, but a deep sleep will help to heal your mind, Potter. Now, since I have seen you through the night, I have other things that require my attention apart from sleep. Black or one of the Weasleys will be here to keep an eye on you. If your condition worsens, or changes in any way but for the better, then have them alert me."
Turning on his heel, Severus headed out the door, not surprised at all to see Black in the hall. Ignoring the man, he headed home.
ō.ō&ö.ö
"Evening, Severus." Harold dropped into the chair across from the Potions Master. "Our connection didn't seem solid when I first tried to come over, but then I focused on this little scar I got on my chest and here I am!"
When Severus raised an inquiring eyebrow, Harold continued. "The scar came from when I was being bucked about on my broom during my first year – the first time you saved my life."
Taking a deep breath, he leaned forward, his eyes glued on Severus' face. "Are you really happy we are still together?"
Harold watched Severus' face closely, looking for any sign of unease. All he saw was a genuine smile curling those thin lips, and his curled into an answering one.
"Harold, if I didn't want you here, I would build a defence that would keep you out." Severus leaned forward, drinking in the sight of a pain-free Harold sitting across from him once again and wondering when he would get a chance to see that scar that now was their connector. Harold's casual 'we are still together' had warmed his heart and other places trying to get his attention. There was no doubt that he was happy that they could still see each other. "Of course I want you here. We are friends, we have been friends longer than you've been alive."
Laughing at that, Harold settled back into his seat. "Good, because I don't think I could make it without you around." A grin still curled his lips but his green eyes became serious. "I don't feel younger than you. I grew up with you, went to school with you, I even took the same tests you did. Well, except NEWTs. You even made me answer parts of your Mastery test on a whim. I know that was what those questions were. Then again, you might have slipped some NEWT questions in there as well." Harold searched Severus' face. Seeing the slightly guilty expression, he rolled his eyes and let it go. "I can't see how I can still be a teen. It just shouldn't be possible."
"It is the time-travel that did it. I agree though, it is hard to think of you as a teen, or even as Potter. But the reality is that you are both."
Harold sighed lightly before shrugging. There was nothing they could do about their ages. He was just glad they were able to see each other during their waking hours. It was time to change the topic. "You know, I never realized how much my head constantly ached since I started Hogwarts until now. Thank you for figuring out how to end the connection and for being willing to do it."
"I also made you very ill with it."
Harold nodded, knowing Severus still felt bad about that even though he had warned Harold about the possibility and he had accepted it. "It was just our good balanced out with the normal dose of bad. I was prepared for it, didn't enjoy it, but at least I expected it and you were there."
Severus studied him for a moment before relaxing. "How about the other side effects? Personality shifts, weird memory losses or additions..."
Harold grinned as he shook his head. "I can't tell if anything very different. Well, except my temper is a bit easier to manage."
Severus' smile brightened, his dark eyes alight with relief and happiness. "Now that that is done, we have some work to discuss." The assignments Harold had worked on earlier that summer appeared on the table between them. "All in all, well done. I have a bit of concern about your Ancient Runes and Arithmancy work though so let's go over it."
He only chuckled at the playful sigh that escaped Harold.
Ò.Ô&Ő.Ő
Harry walked with Ron into Slughorn's classroom, both of them still amazed that they were in the sixth years NEWTs potions class. Harry distinctly remembered when Severus learned he had only made an E on his potions OWL. That was one dream where Severus had shown he was truly Professor Snape. Since neither Harry nor Ron were prepared to take the NEWT level course, they didn't have a book, scales or ingredients between the two of them.
It didn't take but a moment to let Slughorn know their predicament. The rotund Potions Master handed both of them old textbooks, and the moment Harry opened his, he felt his eyes widen. 'What is Severus' book doing here? Surely it is still in his room or wherever all the other books from the basket are.'
Turning over to page ten, Harry set about brewing the Draught of Living Death following Severus' directions. They were easier to read in the book and he knew that they would be better than the author's, as well.
When his potions turned out as perfect as he expected – he could practically hear Severus telling him what to do, explaining it so that it made sense – Harry promised himself that he would be keeping this book and find out from Severus why it was even in the room.
ō.ō&ö.ö
"Harold, why did you have to say something so-o-o..." Severus trailed off and shook his head as he stared at the green-eyed teen sitting in his normal chair near the fireplace.
That afternoon in Defence, just after scolding Weasley for not doing well, he had shot a spell at Potter. Harold had shielded himself and teased him… 'At least it was a simple hex. Dumbledore would not have been happy if it had been something more complicated, and it almost was since I was thinking of Potter as Harold right that moment. Of course, he reacted just like Harold. He shielded, and then teased me.' Severus had quickly recovered from that - insulting Harold's reliance on verbal spells - but then Harold had turned around and used his own reminder to call Snape sir as a tease.
The scene played out in his memory once again - it had been there most of the afternoon, popping up at the strangest moments.
"Do you remember me telling you we are practising non-verbal spells, Potter?" He had stared at Harold - no, Potter - trying not to see the laughter that his friend - no, student - was barely hiding.
"Yes," said Potter stiffly.
Severus knew that most people would think that Harold was mad, but he could tell differently. Narrowing his eyes in warning glare, he corrected Harold. "Yes sir."
"There's no need to call me "sir", Professor." The cheeky grin that accompanied those words almost made him forget their audience. Luckily he heard the chuckling of one of the other students, and instead of shooting back a rejoinder, he assigned detention instead.
Shaking the scene out of his head, he continued, "I had to give you detention for that amount of disrespect."
Harold nodded. "Yes, you did. You, though... You had to try to jinx me. It was such a Severus move, not a Snape move, that I just reacted. You would have glared at me and tried not to chuckle."
"You were supposed to use a non-verbal spell to shield with, not verbal." Severus crossed the room and gracefully settled into the seat across from Harold. "I know you are capable of non-verbal spells, we worked on them some your last school year."
He refused to mention the chuckle that had tried to escape. It was not something he could allow to happen. They could not mix up when they were to act as friends and enemies.
Harold sighed and shrugged. "I didn't want to stand out. I wasn't thinking and just spoke the spell since I was in that classroom, not here with you. It did give you a perfect opportunity to give me a detention though. Can I help with the cure research now?"
Severus raised an eyebrow. "I should make you practise your non-verbals until you are drop dead tired."
"Yes, sir!" A grin split Harold's face when Severus snorted lightly. "Oh, I needed to tell you. I won't be able to serve your detention Saturday. The Headmaster wants me to meet up with him. I can come by after he is done with me if you want me to."
Severus shook his head. "Move mine to next Saturday."
Rolling his eyes, Harold nodded. "Okay. Hey, did you know your Advanced Potions Making book was in the Potions classroom? Slughorn gave it to me today to use until I can order a new one."
Severus quirked his lips into a half-grin. "Yes, I knew it was there, and I spelled it in a manner that it would find its way to you. Keep it and use it well. I can't help you at all on any of your Potions or Defence essays so this was the best I could do."
"You did that to help me?" Beaming, Harold jumped out of his seat and wrapped Severus in a tight hug before releasing him just as quickly. "Thank you! You are the best friend in the entire world."
Severus shook his head. "Don't get used to it. I get to snark at you plenty."
Harold just smiled.
ō.ō&ö.ö
"The Blond Prat is using students to do his work for him." The words were growled out as soon as Harold appeared in Severus' room.
"Miss Bell?" asked Severus.
Harold nodded. "I am positive he or someone working with him Imperiused her to take the necklace to the castle. I know you are supposed to be helping him, can't you make sure he doesn't drag the students into it?"
Severus sighed and shook his head. "No, he isn't allowing me to do anything to help him at all. He won't let me in on any of his plans; he won't even come see me when I request it."
Harold shot off his chair and started pacing. "Is that Blond Prat trying to get you killed!? I'll track him down and knock some sense into his head. Tomorrow, he won't know what hit him."
Spinning about, he glared towards Severus. "Surely, he knows just how much you can help him. I mean, you are the Head of Slytherin for Pete's sake! You are a Professor! You can smuggle almost anything in on the pretence it is a potion ingredient or to be used in your Defence Against the Dark Arts class. He is a dunderhead on the largest order if he doesn't know that and use it to his advantage. He isn't worthy of the name Slytherin if he bungles this badly."
Severus managed to hide the astonished smile that attempted to peek out when Harold threatened to knock some sense into Draco, but he couldn't hold back his laughter at that last sentence. He continued laughing as Harold blinked at him, giving him the strangest look.
"I wasn't being funny, Severus. The Blond Prat cannot continue to make this big of a mistake."
Severus tried to stop his chuckles as he watched Harold fold his arms, obviously waiting for him to stop. He spoke when he finally had control over himself. "Harold, you are going to march up to the Blond Prat tomorrow and just tell him how much of an idiot he is? Honestly?"
A small smile cracked Harold's face. "I'll figure out a way to do it without letting him know that I know you are supposed to be helping him harm the Headmaster. It'll be easy."
Severus raised an eyebrow at that. "Easy?"
Sighing, Harold dropped back into his seat. "Okay, not easy. More like impossible. But that idiot needs to get his act together!"
ō.ō&ö.ö
"The Blond Prat is getting better, but he really needs to ask for your help." Harold slammed into his chair and stared at Severus. "Thank you for teaching me about the bezoar and having made notes about it near the antidote section in your book."
Severus pinched his lips together before he spoke, "Tell me what happened. The rumour mill is running rampant, but the Potions Master isn't filling in the details."
"He only knows part of the story any way." Harold settled back, his fingers tapping on the chair arm the only thing showing his aggravation. "Red ate some chocolate that was gifted to me over Christmas. It had a love potion in it. So, I took him to the Potions Master to have an antidote made – he mixed it up fast and Red was right as rain not long after we entered the room. To celebrate Red's birthday, the Potions Master then offered us a drink. Broke out some oak-matured mead that was intended for the Headmaster's Christmas present. Red drank his glass first – possibly to wash the antidote's taste out of his mouth – and then went into convulsions."
Severus felt his eyes widen. "What did the Potions Master do?"
Snorting, Harold shook his head. "Nothing. Stood there in shock. I went into his potions kit and pulled out the bezoar I had used in class earlier today and got Red to swallow it. It worked."
"That is why you are thanking me about the bezoar. Why did you use a bezoar in class, Harold?"
"Yes, that is why I thanked you." Harold leaned back into the seat, his aggravation fading slightly now that he had told Severus what had happened. "Why did I use it? Books would have noticed if I could make a halfway decent antidote – she doesn't like the advantage your book is giving me. Not that it is much, it is just refreshing my memory on what we went over, but she doesn't know that. So, I opted to bungle this one, but I got the bezoar since it was scribbled in the corner of the page. If it hadn't been in the book or you hadn't mentioned it first year, I wouldn't have had access to one so quickly and I would have lost Red." Running a hand over his face, Harold spoke through his fingers. "Any rate, the Blond Prat at least smartened up enough to get a Professor to help him with this, but honestly, he should just get you in on the act. It would be over and done with then."
"He doesn't want to. He doesn't trust my motives. He thinks I will take the reward for his accomplishments."
Harold dropped his hands onto the chair arm and changed the subject. "What did you argue with the Headmaster about? The Half-giant mentioned it."
"He can't keep anything secret, can he?" Severus growled out before sighing. "I tried to talk the Headmaster out of the agreement that I would be the one to injure him instead of the Blond Prat. He wouldn't listen."
"So, the Headmaster made you promise to be the one to get him out of the school and he is showing me about the Dark One's past." Harold shook his head slowly. "What is he trying to do?"
Severus paused before answering. "I think he is getting ready to cut us loose. Give us a task and then expect us to handle it without support. I am to become the Dark One's right hand man and possibly the Headmaster, and you are to do something with all this information."
Harold blinked slowly before leaning forward. "Then we need to make sure we have as much information as we can get and we need to make sure we share it between us."
As Severus nodded in agreement, Harold stood and held out a hand. "I want to try something, and now seems like the best time to give it a shot."
Severus stood as well and then looked from Harold's hand to his face. "What do you want to try?"
"I want to see if I can bring you into my mind. You travelled to me once before." Harold waited, hoping that Severus would agree.
When Severus took his hand, he grinned. Meshing his fingers through the long thin ones, Harold focused on his own mind and took them there following the connection that only he could see. Once there, he pictured the Gryffindor common room.
"Make yourself comfortable." Harold smiled at Severus who sat in one of the armchairs. "I want to show you all the memories the Headmaster has shown me. It is about time you learned more about the Dark One."
Severus' eyes widened before he nodded. "Let the show begin."
Harold settled on to the sofa and the wall with the fireplace faded. The Gaunt house appeared as Bob Ogden's memory played out before them. Then came the Headmaster's explanation and his memory of meeting young Tom Riddle at the orphanage. This was swiftly followed by Morfin's first meeting with Riddle and finally Slughorn's distorted memory.
When they were finished, Harold turned to Severus. "The Headmaster wants me to get the last memory from the Potions Master without the distortions. I can't figure out what a Horcrux is..." His words trailed off as he noticed the look on Severus' face. "You know, though, don't you?"
Severus nodded slowly. "It is a very dark piece of magic, Harold. It is designed to keep a wizard alive forever. The caster breaks his soul by murdering someone and then placing the created fragment into some sort of container."
He settled a contemplative look on a horrified Harold, trying to decide if now was the time to mention his belief that Harold had once been one of Voldemort's containers. Before he could speak, Harold did.
"The diary. That had to be one. Do you think he had more?"
"Indubitably. He was still alive, even when the diary was destroyed." Black eyes searched green. "I think that is what we cleansed out of your head this summer. It would explain the spell needed to break it and the green flash. The spell killed the piece of soul in you."
Harold's eyes unfocused, his thoughts going back in time to that fateful night when Voldemort killed his mother. Then he swallowed hard. "Okay, that is creepy. But ... it is finally gone and I am still me. I am very glad that tomorrow is Sunday. If you don't see me, I am going to be in the Come and Go Room, being sick."
Severus nodded, his expression just as solemn. "I'll be sure to stop by to check on you."
