HARRY

Harry slowly came to his senses. He was lying in a soft bed with a plush pillow underneath his head. It took him a second to remember what had happened. His cheeks burned as he realized what he'd ruined. Ginny probably hated him!

Realizing he had to get up eventually, he slowly opened his eyes. Blurrily, he looked for his glasses on the nightstand, slipping them on as he looked around the empty hospital wing. Voices reached his ear and he sat up as Professor Dumbledore and Snape walked in.

"Ah Harry you're awake!" Dumbledore's eyes seemed to twinkle.

Nodding his head slightly, Harry wondered why Snape was there.

Dumbledore continued, "Luckily Snape found you last night and was able to quickly get you here."

Dumbledore's words registered and Harry's face went beat red. Harry purposely kept his gaze focused away from Snape. This morning just kept getting better and better. Why did Snape have to be the one to find them? He already hated him enough as it was.

"And might I add, it seems you might need a reminder about curfew and other rules you may have forgotten." Dumbledore tapped his head and while his eyes were back to twinkling. "Now, Harry, did you see anything when your scar hurt?"

"No, but I…uh…" He hesitated and then blurted out, "I felt really angry and I felt like I wanted to hurt someone."

Dumbledore nodded, "Do not be ashamed Harry. These are not your feelings, they are Voldemorts. Do not forget that."

Harry relaxed as Dumbledore talked. Harry never wanted to feel that angry again. Yes he got angry when Malfoy was around. That was probably the angriest he ever gets when Malfoy opens his big arrogant mouth, but it didn't compare to the sheer size of hatred, anger, and desire to cause pain. Harry shivered in disgust. Maybe there was a way to block this connection. But surely Dumbledore would have mentioned something.

"Profesor, I was wondering. Is there any way to stop this connection or block it to some degree?"

Dumbledore slowly nodded, "Yes I think there may be something that will help which is why Professor Snape is here. Have you ever heard of Occlumency?"

Harry shook his head no.

"Occlumency will help block others from trying to enter your mind and see your memories. Not many people practice this anymore, but Professor Snape, myself, and Voldemort are all proficient with the mind arts. It is my belief that Voldemort is accidentally sending you his emotions through this link and by learning to block your mind it should help reduce or stop these feelings and/or dreams from getting through."

Harry nodded again.

"So Professor Snape has graciously agreed to teach you Occlumency." Dumbledore clapped his hands together cheerfully. "Therefore, you will have Occlumency lessons with Snape once a week until Professor Snape feels you are sufficient enough to practice on your own."

Harry's inside seemed to twist as he glanced up at Snape. Seeing Snape even more was not something he was looking forward to, especially after he found Ginny and him together last night. Snape didn't look too pleased either.

Harry nodded.

After the Professors left, Madam Pomfrey declared he was good enough to leave so he headed towards the great hall.

Arriving late, he pulled open the doors and the voices became quieter as they saw him walk in and then the volume resumed. Harry looked over at the Gryffindor table and saw Hermione, Ron and Ginny talking. Ginny looked worried as Hermione tried to console her. Ron was stuffing the food in as usual.

"Hey." He simply said as Ginny and everyone else looked up at him.

"Harry!" She jumped up and threw her arms around him. "Are you okay? I've never been more scared."

"I'm fine." He said, enjoying the hug and relieved that she didn't hate him. They sat down together and were much closer than usual, with their knees touching.

Lunch finished up and they headed to their classes while Harry hurried and wrote a quick not to Sirius begging him for help. His family had to have a book or something to help teach him. He didn't think that things would work out well with Snape.

Their classes flew by and soon the days began to fly by as well. Occlumency was a nightmare and his head constantly hurt most days now. All Snape did was tell him to clear his mind and then tear into his mind and watch Dudley beat him up or any other memory of the Dursleys. He swore Snape was trying to pull up his worst memories.

Back in the common room Harry was doing his homework when McGonagall came by with a signup sheet saying who was staying for Christmas break.

"Hey Harry, mum invited you and Hermione to come stay with us. You game?"

"Actually I decided I'm going back to the Dursley's for the break."

Ron, Hermione and Ginny all stared at him. Too speechless to say anything.

"I just need to go back for something. It's only two weeks I'll be fine."

"But Harry, you hate it there. What do you need to grab that's so important?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing," Harry said.

"Harry…" Ginny spoke up.

"Don't worry guys, it's only two weeks and I'll be fine."

Ron and Hermione glanced at each other and Ginny continued to look at him worriedly. Harry felt slightly guilty that he wasn't spending Christmas break with Ginny and he really didn't want to go back to the Dursleys, but at the same time something was pushing him away from Hogwarts and the Weasley's. For the time being he wanted a break. A break from his friends, school, his scar and from magic in general. So he was going back to the only place where he wouldn't have to face his problems, the Dursleys. The place where magic didn't exist.