A cool hand pressed against Harry's forehead, and he moaned, opening his eyes and blinking to clear the blurriness. When it didn't fade he reached to the side for his glasses.
"Ah, good, you're awake," Madam Pomfrey's voice was strangely comforting, and she placed Harry's glasses in his hand. He slipped them on, and blinked.
"Wha— Ow!" Harry grabbed at his scar and hunched over, overcome by the sudden jolt of pain.
"You'll have to expect that for a couple of days, I'm afraid," She murmured.
"Hurts…" Harry mumbled. He wasn't referring to the pain in his head, but the pain caused by the memories of what had happened. Madam Pomfrey laid a hand on his shoulder.
"I know. I've already talked to Professor Dumbledore about that." Her voice hardened a fraction. "From now on you will be taking a potion to stop the dreams. I expect the Professors will want to have a word with you, now. I'll be back in just a moment." She patted his shoulder once, then left the room. Harry drew in a breath, and forced the memories to the back of his mind, laying back on the bed and staring at the ceiling in an attempt to empty his mind of all thought.
"It's good to see you awake, Harry," Dumbledore said. Despite his words he sounded troubled. Professor Snape was standing behind him, frowning in a distracted way. Both looked tired, and Harry realised for the first time that candles lit the room instead of daylight.
"What time is it? Weren't you two still with Mr Flydehawk," He asked, not bothering to sit up. He mind felt like it was full of cotton wool, and he wondered if he had been given some sort of calming potion.
"Two thirty seven in the morning at last check, and Mr Flydehawk left hours ago," Snape answered sourly, then yawned.
"What happened, Harry? It was Voldemort, I presume…" Dumbledore asked gently. Harry nodded, then paused and shook his head.
"No, not Voldemort. Just some of his followers and victims," He answered, resisting the urge to throw up as the memories surged to the surface of his mind. He pushed them back again and shook his head before raising a hand to his scar and grimacing.
"I see. Madam Pomfrey has insisted that you be given a potion to guard against dreams, so you shouldn't have to worry about this sort of thing happening again."
"That's not true, Sir," Harry corrected him. Dumbledore raised an eyebrow quizzically.
"How so?"
"This one didn't happen while I was asleep. It just…took over. I couldn't stop myself from feeling what the people in it were feeling…" He fell silent.
"I see. That will present more of a problem."
"Not really," Snape disagreed. "All he needs to do is learn a spell that will distance him emotionally from the visions. I am presuming that you have some kind of warning before succumbing to them completely, of course."
Harry nodded. "I do, but it doesn't take long for them to overcome me, so it'd have to be a very quick spell to perform."
Dumbledore frowned. "I'm sure we'll be able to find something to that effect. I will inform the other teachers before breakfast, and see if any of them are familiar with a spell that would be able to do that without any side effects. Until then I suggest that you get some sleep if you are able. Madam Pomfrey will be keeping you here for observation tomorrow, so don't worry about classes." With that he left the infirmary.
Harry watched with concern as the Headmaster lifted a hand to massage his temples as he passed through the door. With all that had been happening to him lately Harry had almost forgotten that the situation wasn't just affecting him, and it made him wonder what else he wasn't picking up on. He realised that Snape was watching him and turned to face him.
"You should take the Headmaster's advice and get some sleep. You look awful," Snape told him, his voice carrying a tone of indifference. He turned to follow Dumbledore out of the Hospital Wing, but Harry's voice stopped him.
"Lovely to know that you're so worried about your half-nephew. I suppose that's what family is all about though, correct?" Harry's voice was angry, and carried a sarcastic edge. Severus stopped and then turned slowly.
"What did you say?" He asked, voice strangely hushed.
Harry didn't know why he had said that. Snape's indifference had annoyed him, and for a moment he had wanted to do something, anything to get rid of it. He had just blurted out what had been on his mind without thinking. For a moment he panicked and wished he could just take back what he had said, but then he hardened. What had been said couldn't just be erased, and it was time that it was dealt with.
"You heard what I said." Harry raised an eyebrow at Severus, and smirked, challenging him to say something. "So, what are you going to do about it…Uncle?"
