Yay for my reviewers! Thanks Toria, Atari420, Lady Lighhtning, Jliles, Xirleb70- wow, the imperius curse didn't work? Good grief, I'll have to start thinking of new ideas.., elfmoon87, carpathia, tigergirl- get back on your seat, dear, there's more to come!, cresha potter, calani- yes, master!, charma1219, shannic- I'm so glad you like it!, lei van, enahma, candledot, lei Dumbledore, and kemenran. You guys are truly awesome.

I don't own Harry Potter, that would be Ms. Rowling, with whom I am well pleased.

WHOO HOO!!

~~~***~~~

Seventeen and a half minutes later, Harry's screams became low wails of agony, and his seizures became an intense case of the shivers. Finally, the Cruciatus was over.

~~~***~~~~

Harry, who had become unconscious as soon as his professors bent down to him, woke with a start in the arms of Remus Lupin, who was desperately hurrying to the hospital wing.

"Remus.." Harry managed weakly, trying to get the older wizard's attention.

He was in a lot of pain. A whole lot of pain. His insides felt like there were being ripped apart, searing pains down his sides, his whole body was burning, being engulfed in flames. But he was awake, and that was all that mattered.

Remus heard Harry's moan and looked down into dazed emerald eyes, their color clouded over with a mist of white.

"Harry, Harry, child, are you alright? Don't speak, I'm getting you to the hospital wing.."

"No. McGonagall."  Harry felt like gagging. His throat was ripped to shreds from all of the screaming.

"She's right behind us, Harry. Don't worry."

Remus quickly opened one of the doors to the hospital wing and ran inside. Poppy was nowhere to be seen.

"POPPY!" Remus screeched, setting Harry down gently on a bed. Harry's eyes had closed again.

Remus ran his fingers over Harry's forehead, pushing away the sweaty black hair from his face. He was burning up, and trembling again with what were obviously going to be severe after-effects.

Poppy was now running into the room, alerted by Remus's wild yell, with Dumbledore and McGonagall right behind her. Remus stood up at once to leave room for Madame Pomfrey, who was now using several spells to determine how extensive the damage was.

Lupin stood next to Dumbledore, who either looked furious or completely helpless- the werewolf couldn't tell. There was a chilling silence sweeping the room, except for a few clattering noises of potions bottles, their liquid being forcibly shoved down Harry's throat.

"He asked for you, Minerva, on the way here," Remus said softly.

"He did? I wonder what he.."

"Potions," murmured Harry from across the room. Though he was still trembling incessantly, it certainly wasn't as bad as it could have been.

"Go to sleep, Harry. I'll worry about your potions," said Minerva. She walked over to him and smoothed his hair. With a meaningful glance at Dumbledore, she left the room.

Minerva wondered if the potion could be saved. Surely it had been too long- hadn't it?

"Go to sleep, Harry," ordered Dumbledore.

The teenager fell into a much needed, if not restless, sleep.

~~~***~~~~

Professor, Professor, please wake up! Please be here, God, please be okay..

(silence)

PROFESSOR! WAKE UP!!

Unh..

Professor? Professor Snape?

Am I dead?

Oh! Thank the Lord! You're okay!

I'm OKAY?!? I feel like I swallowed a cauldron of poison, got beaten up by a dragon, and raged upon by an inferno! I am NOT okay!

A very compelling description, Snape.

So I'm not dead?

No, And neither am I. But I kind of wish I were. Then maybe I wouldn't feel like crap.

I know the feeling.

I'm slightly.. out of commission. God, I wish I could help you. I feel terrible, and I've even got about a dozen post-Cruciatus potions in my system. You must feel.. awful.

Thanks for reminding me.

Any time. But I have McGonagall finishing the invisibility potion. I told her to before I fell asleep. Maybe by tomorrow, or the next day-

Don't get your hopes up, Potter. You need to have full strength before you attempt this.

I will. There's still a long time until tomorrow.

Don't be foolish and get yourself killed on my account.

I won't. If I get killed, it will be entirely my own doing.

Isn't that the truth.

They came in your cell this time, Professor. Both Lucius Malfoy and Voldemort. That's why the curse was so strong.

Yes.

God, I feel like shit.

I can relate.

Mm.. I'm going now.

Boring conversation anyway.

Feel better, Professor. We'll be there soon.

Potter?

Yes?

How's the curse coming?

Perfectly.

What is that supposed to mean?

It means that if all goes as planned, you won't have to worry about Voldemort anymore.

You're an idiot, Potter. You're not going to create a super-curse. You know that.

Ah, but my dear professor, I already have.

It won't work.

Thanks for your optimism.

Any time.

Bye.

~~~****~~~

Three hours later, Harry finally began to stir. After his conversation with Snape, he had fallen into an even deeper sleep. Not even the prodding of Madame Pomfrey and the sting of potions on his wounded flesh were enough to wake him. But finally, he was showing signs of waking.

"Harry?" came a foggy voice from somewhere far away.

Harry groaned in response.

"Well, Albus, he's waking up. His cuts are healed, but he lost a fair amount of blood. He's going to be lightheaded for a while. And don't even try to get him away from here. Not today, and maybe not tomorrow, either. This was the worst attack yet, Albus. I've never even seen Severus in such a bad condition. He must be in really bad shape, wherever he is. And no matter how much I'd like for Harry to go and find him, he has to stay here for now. He's been through a lot, and he's probably not going to be able to eat solid food for at least another day. He's not leaving my sight."

"But I promised-" murmured Harry gently. His throat was still sore from where he had screamed out in pain only hours before.

"Harry, dear, don't argue with me. You'll lose," said Madame Pomfrey. "Now, can you tell me how you feel? Are you sore? Hungry?"

With a sly glance at Dumbledore, Harry replied, "I feel like I got run over by a herd of rhinoceros who managed to impale me with their horns before setting me on fire and cutting up my throat."

Harry attempted to suppress a grin at the amused look on his headmaster's face, but failed miserably.

"My, Harry, that was.."

"Colorful," finished Madame Pomfrey. "Can you be more specific?"

"Oh. Right. Well, my throat hurts, my stomach hurts, my head is sore, I can't feel my left arm, and.. actually, everything hurts."

Madame Pomfrey rolled her eyes and gave Harry a potion that immediately eased the burning in his throat and stomach.

"Oh," added Harry, "and I feel somewhat dirty because I think that I might have been rolling around in-"

Dumbledore waved a hand, cutting Harry off. "When you're able to stand, maybe tomorrow, you may shower. We've already done a simple cleaning charm on you. Not relax, child. You've been through quite a bit."

"But Professor Snape-"

"Will be fine until we get there. He's strong, Harry. He'll be alright."

Harry sneered. "You don't know that. One person can only take so much."

Dumbledore's tone was soft, but firm. "Harry, there is nothing better you can do for him but sleep. Get rest. You won't be able to help if you can't keep yourself strong."

Harry nodded. Dumbledore was right, he knew that.

He slowly closed his eyes, and let the comfort of sleep embrace him.