A new kind of pain

If Harry had managed to succeed on his second attempt at wandless nonverbal magic, he still wasn't too proud of himself. At first he felt a lot of joy but reality quickly hit him back. It was just the beginning and lifting a pebble was still too weak of an achievement to be celebrated. But he was determined to grow as a wizard. He wanted to be better and he was putting the effort in.

His focus on his work allowed him to endure Umbridge's classes even if it still infuriated him to see her destroy Hogwarts decree by decree. It's not that he was calmer, it's just that he was constantly angry but at a manageable level.

Ron and Hermione had noticed the change in his behaviour but they said nothing. They were trying to support him. Getting his attention elsewhere when a group of students would glance at them with a copy of the Prophet in their hand. Or using their Prefect position to intimidate any classmate attempting to call their friend a liar.

Harry wasn't blind but appreciated their effort. He had decided to ignore the remarks as he had better things to do. Besides, if there was one aspect of his life he could have improved right now, it would have been his sleep. Every night he was ending in this maze of doors. He was running in dark,empty corridors pulling every doorknob. But they would never open and Harry didn't have the slightest idea of what he would have found behind them.

Because of this he would wake up tired and sore, dragging his feet around the castle to show up in class.

'Harry, Harry!'

He immediately recognised the voice and turned around preparing to face his Quidditch Captain.

'I know I was late at practice last night,' he started.

'You... What?' Replied Angelina. 'No I'm not here to talk about this.' Ron and Hermione had stopped with Harry. They were on their way to Potions. 'Have you seen Umbridge's last decree?' Asked Angelina looking outraged.

'Huh no,' answered Harry. 'What is it?'

'She has dismantled and canceled every student organization at Hogwarts. And that counts for Quidditch too!'

'What?' Ron and Hermione had joined Harry in his exclamation. 'But she can't do that! You can't cancel Quidditch!'

'I know, I know,' said Angelina. 'I am going to ask her today if we can form the team again so please Harry…' Her tone was almost begging. 'Please be nice in her class. Try to not draw attention to yourself.'

Harry tried to replicate but Angelina shut him down. She knew it wasn't Harry's fault but it wasn't the point. So he promised he would make an effort.

'How is she allowed to do that?' Asked Ron as they were back on their way to the dungeons.

Harry shrugged. Umbridge was trying to make his life miserable, there was no other possible explanation.

'Someone should talk about all this to Dumbledore,' risked Hermione with a glance at Harry.

'I don't know,' said Ron. 'He hasn't been around lately. Seriously, do you remember the last time we saw him?'

Hermione stood silent.

'Yeah me neither,' continued Ron.

'I wasn't talking about anyone!' Replied Hermione.

'I know what you are suggesting,' said Harry as they were climbing down the stairs. 'And the answer is the same. Dumbledore has better things to do than to talk to me obviously.'

'You know it's not true,' started Hermione.

'But I don't care!' Harry cut her off while stopping to face his friend. 'I don't care. I don't know the reason why he avoids me but at this point I am tired of trying to get his attention. He doesn't want to see me? Fine! I'll leave him alone and get through it on my own!'

And without waiting for any answers, he went on his way.

'What's up with him?' Asked Ron very surprised by Harry's outburst.

Hermione stood silent. There was a lot to unravel in what Harry had just said.

Snape handed his students their essay and Harry saw with relief he had managed to get an "A". It still wasn't enough but his effort was paying off.

Today's potion would be the Everlasting Elixir. It reminded Harry that he hadn't started to work on the Draught that would help him with Salazar's training. He really needed to get to it as he couldn't stay tired indefinitely.

He took extra care in the brewing of his potion. Reading every instruction carefully and making sure he was following the steps to the letter. When the time was up he was quite content with himself and brought a vial to Snape's desk. His teacher glanced quickly at the Elixir and Harry noticed a hint of surprise in his eyes. Confident he had managed to brew something worthy of Snape's attention, he went back to his cauldron.

'What do you want, Potter?' Spat Snape when he saw that Harry had stayed behind.

'Sir I was wondering if maybe I could come practice outside of class… Please?'

Snape considered the boy. What did the brat just ask?

'If you were paying attention in class,' hissed the teacher, ' you would know that there are reserved times for students to come and practice on Friday evenings.'

Harry tilted his head. He wasn't the most attentive student but he had never heard of that. But he forbade himself to question the Professor and thanked him before leaving.

Snape watched the student leave. He was in disbelief and wondered what Harry had exactly in mind. This was too unusual to be sincere.

Ron and Hermione decided to wait for Harry at the library.

'Harry needs help,' declared Hermione after making sure no one could hear them.

'Well you heard him,' answered Ron. 'Besides, he is right. Dumbledore is avoiding him and I don't think that if Harry goes to the Gargoyle it will open up.'

'Dumbledore can refuse to see Harry,' said Hermione. 'But he can't refuse a meeting with the prefects.'

Ron was about to ask where she had read that, but he didn't want to hear Hermione recite rules he surely should have read himself. So he simply nodded.

'You're not focused!' Said Salazar with a cold voice.

Harry was panting on the floor and the disappointment in Salazar's voice froze him. He got back on his feet with difficulty and catched up his breath. There was no point in giving any excuses. Salazar Slytherin wanted results, not whining.

It had been two weeks since Harry had started to come every night to the Chamber. So far his results had been compelling. They had moved to another step of the training since Harry had managed to get single objects flying around him without to much trouble. The goal was now to be able to divide his focus and he had to lift several objects at the same time. But tonight, nothing was working. Harry was exhausted.

'You are angry,' said Salazar calmly. 'Constantly. I think I have never seen you at ease.'

Harry remained silent. This was the truth and Harry didn't understand why. Some days he was just annoyed, but most of them he was nervous. The suspicious looks behind his back, the whispers and fingers pointing him. All of this was putting him on the edge.

'It's not easy for you out there, Harry Potter,' continued Salazar. 'But this isn't the reason of your anger.'

'What do you know about this?' Retorted Harry exasperated. 'I am being called a liar for telling the truth. I try to help and I am being rejected for it!'

'And yet last year you were also treated the same. But you weren't that angry.'

'Maybe I am starting to find this behaviour really annoying then,' rebelled Harry.

Salazar tilted his head and smiled. He wouldn't offer the truth to Harry on a silver platter. But it was important that boy realises what was happening to him. He needed to know what he was.

'Let's try to be rational here, shall we?' He said with a hint of disdain in his voice. He despised impatience and stubbornness.

Harry noticed the change in Salazar's tone and took a deep breath while putting his glasses back on his nose.

'That's better young man. Now tell me, what has changed since last year?'

The boy closed his eyes and made a mental list of everything that was different from last year:

He wasn't part of the Quidditch team anymore

Ron and Hermione were prefects but not him

Dumbledore was ignoring him

Cedric had died

Voldemort was back

Lord Voldemort was back… He quickly touched his scar. He knew there was a connection between the Dark Lord and him. He didn't know the extent of it but his scar was hurting whenever he was close to Voldemort or his followers.

'He is back,' he answered after a few seconds. 'And since then my scar aches more frequently. But this pain is different though.'

'Go on,' encouraged Salazar.

'Before it would just itch or burn. But now every time I feel it, there is something else.' He paused. 'Do you think this is the cause of my anger? Do you think I feel angry because… he feels angry too?'

Salazar's eyes glimmered in the dark.

'Before last summer, my Heir was just a shadow of himself,' he said with a grave voice. 'Since then he has gained his body back and with it, his powers. The day he gave you the scar, he didn't simply mark you.'

'I know he gave some of his powers,' said Harry. 'This is why I can speak Parseltongue.'

'This is partly true, but there is much more than simple powers.'

'What do you mean?'

'We'll get to it in time,' replied Salazar patiently. 'But you can think of it as an insight into his soul. This is why you should learn to let go of this rampant anger. If you allow his feelings to flood yours, you will lose yourself.'