Dumbledore comes for some answers and Snape tests Harry's Occlumency with near disastrous consequences.

A/N: I own nothing this is all J.K.R.'s, what a brilliant mind she has.

Chapter Four- Lies

Harry had not been wrong about the change to the rest of the house and he found himself repulsed by it. He liked color, but this was too much. The only thing that seemed to have remained the same and now looked very out of place in the well-lit sky blue hallway was the covered portrait of Mrs. Black. Mrs. Weasley had explained as soon as they had reached the room that Ron and Harry shared, that the permanent sticking charm was still, just that, permanent.

Harry had spent the first day back glumly sitting in his room ignoring any attempts Ron had at starting a conversation. He was in no mood to talk to anyone even his best friend. Thankfully the only thing that seemed to have changed in their room was that the walls were now covered by many orange posters of the Chudley Cannons, Ron's favorite Quidditch team, that hadn't won the league in either of their life times.

Harry was sitting on the floor in a far dim corner of the Black family's extensive dark library, with one of Merlin's books in his lap and a small candle at his side. It was just after dinner, where Harry had eaten very little and talked even less. He had disappeared into the second floor library with the hopes of not having to talk to anyone. It seemed that everyone wanted to talk to him, but no one really had anything to say, at least anything that Harry felt was important enough to listen too. Harry was angry and sad and worried about Lupin. No one had told him exactly what had happened at the Burrow, which made his mind wander with all the terrible possibilities. It seemed that whenever he brought up the question, everyone would find a way to change the subject, even Ron and Ginny, which was rather disconcerting.

Harry was rereading about the Occlumency type magic when he looked up startled by the click of the door. Harry immediately closed his book and hid it from view. "What do you want?" Harry asked coldly without looking at the person coming into the room, and then winced at the tone of his voice and instantly regretted it when he saw the hurt look on Ginny Weasley's face. Harry stood up from the floor. "I'm sorry Ginny," he said looking to the floor.

Ginny half smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "It's alright; I know what it's like to want to get away from everyone. I just thought I'd let you know that Professor Dumbledore is looking for you. He's got Ron searching every room," Ginny said turning to leave. "I'll tell him you're in here."

Harry breathed in deeply and then turned to pick up his book; he knew that he'd have to explain sooner or later what had happened earlier. He was certain that they didn't know that he was projecting Voldemort's emotions as well as his own. He quickly found a place for the diary on one of the shelves and he was relieved to see that it looked like it belonged there. Harry set his candle on a small table and turned around at the click of the door again. He eyed Dumbledore as he came into the room, followed shortly after by a scowling Snape. Why was it that no one ever knocked, the door was closed for a reason. That was the one thing about Privet Drive that he liked, they always knocked, even if a bit rudely. Harry always thought it common courtesy.

"Hello Harry," Dumbledore said as he sat down in one of the chairs by the fireplace, Snape remained standing.

"Professor," Harry acknowledged him, not Snape. He too remained standing.

The twinkle that was normally always present in Dumbledore's eyes seemed to have momentarily been extinguished as he surveyed Harry. After several minutes of looking at each other Dumbledore stood from the chair and walked towards Harry. "Harry I need you to tell me, what happened this after noon. You were speaking Parseltongue before you used that magic."

Harry breathed out heavily. "I was telling Voldemort to get out of my mind, I was feeling his emotions. Honestly, Professor, I didn't know that I had used that spell until after I'd used it. I was in the middle of expelling Voldemort from my mind. I'm not going to get in trouble for it, am I? I really don't remember doing any magic," the words tumbled out of Harry's mouth so quick that Harry had to recall what he'd said to make sure he hadn't said anything about Merlin's Diaries.

"The Ministry has more problems right now then to monitor whose using magic underage," Snape sneered. "You expelled Lord Voldemort from your mind? Using Occlumency?" Snape asked callously.

Harry thought about this for a moment, technically it was not Occlumency but Dumbledore and Snape had no way of knowing what type of magic Harry was using, so another lie would do. "Yes."

"I would like to have Professor Snape test your Occlumency Harry," Dumbledore watched Harry very closely, too closely, for his reaction.

Harry opened his mouth to ask 'why,' but immediately closed it. He looked at Snape for a moment, hatred building in his eyes. Harry's mind had been weakened so much by Snape's, so called, Occlumency lessons that Voldemort was able to give Harry a false vision, which ultimately ended in the death of Sirius Black. Harry could now block Voldemort from his mind. Shouldn't he easily be able to block Snape the same way? Harry had to admit to himself that expelling Voldemort from his mind tired him greatly. But it was different with Snape, they didn't share the link Voldemort and Harry had.

Harry looked from Dumbledore to Snape. "Fine," he said. "If you think it's necessary." Harry looked around the room and thought of how devastated Hermione would be if anything happened to all the books. He had used magic unconsciously when expelling Voldemort and he didn't want to have that happen there. In truth, Harry himself would be the slightest bit annoyed. He found that with his new ability to absorb anything that he read, he rather found books to be quite enjoyable. "Not here though," Harry said flatly. Merlin's Diary could get destroyed, he thought and then said, "in the kitchen." Harry left the room before either of the Professor's could object.

When he entered into the kitchen a few moments later it was to find Ron, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley sitting around the table in the center of it. Harry noted that the tablecloth had been fixed and the walls and ceiling had been repainted as well, it must have just been done, for it wasn't that way at dinner. "Umm…"

"Harry, how are you doing dear, you hardly ate anything at dinner, would you like me to get you something?" Mrs. Weasley automatically started her coddling of him as soon as he entered through the door.

Under normal circumstances he would have appreciated it but not now. "No it's alright Mrs. Weasley, I'm fine," Harry used the words that he used in so many of his letters. Snape appeared in the doorway followed by Dumbledore. "Professor Dumbledore wants Snape to test my Occlumency. I'd like to use this room."

"Professor," Snape hissed.

"Snape?" blurted Ron.

"Professor," Snape hissed again with more venom.

"It's fine Ron. Umm… could you all leave for a few minutes?" Harry asked.

Dumbledore and Snape moved from the doorway as the Weasley's left the room rather reluctantly.

Harry moved to the other side of the room and started moving chairs away from the table; he was going to make this as painless as possible on himself. If he collapsed he didn't want to hit anything on the way down. He'd hit the corner of his bed one time and he still had the bump on the back of his head to remind him.

Snape took Harry's cue and helped him move the table to the side of the room with the flick of his wand. After the kitchen was clear Harry walked up to Snape. "Ready?" Snape asked with a smirk.

"Yes, but fare warning, anything that happens to you is not my fault," Harry didn't know why but he felt that he had to warn the Potions Master, not that Harry cared if anything happened to him, but he didn't want to be held responsible for it. After all, he'd never put into practice Merlin's Magic against anyone standing right in front of him.

"Right Potter," Snape sneered with a smirk on his face, "Legilimens."

Harry felt the familiar disturbing, pressure of Snape's mind trying to get into his and images, Harry's memories started flashing through his mind. Him, as a small child, watching Dudley open presents on Christmas morning, where he had none. Uncle Vernon, rounding on him in a rage, after he had accidentally displayed some of his 'Freakishness,' in front of them when he was eight. Harry, holding his wand out in front of him as he stood above Dudley and watched his patronus as it chased away the Dementor sent by Umbridge. Harry watching in horror as Sirius fell through the veil at the Department of Mysteries… Harry couldn't take it anymore. He didn't want to see this again. He didn't want Snape to see this.

Harry cleared his mind, with determination, of all of his thoughts as he concentrated in the way the diary had described and threw up his wall of icy stone. He breathed in deeply as blackness filled his vision and his mind. Thinking he had done it, that he had succeeded in expelling Snape from his mind, Harry opened his eyes to nothingness; there was no kitchen, no colors, and no light.

At first, Harry thought that he was alone in the blackness, but then he looked down in front of him. He could clearly see Snape on his knees and doubled over. Harry looked up suddenly to another presence coming forward in the darkness and Harry's blood ran like ice. And he took several steps back only to come in contact with an invisible barrier.

"How did you get in here?" The black robed man that walked towards him hissed in Parseltongue.

Harry grabbed for his wand, but it wasn't there. "Voldemort," it was then that Harry realized that they weren't at anyplace but still in his mind. Voldemort was physically in his mind. "No," Harry also spoke in Parseltongue, though he didn't know why. "This is my mind. Get out!" Harry shouted with a quiver in his voice as he fruitlessly tried to back away from the approaching Dark Lord.

A sharp cold laugh rang out through the air. "Stupid boy," Voldemort spoke in English. "It seems that you have drawn us into your mind, and Severus too, how unfortunate for him. Looks like I'll be able to kill you without even lifting a finger, Crucio."

Harry tried to run but there was nowhere to go, the blast hit him straight in the back and he collapsed in agony. Harry clenched his teeth to keep from screaming and then the pain was gone as the curse was lifted, but all his muscles twitched with after shocks. He slowly pushed himself up onto his knees and saw that Snape was obviously feeling everything that Harry was, but Snape remained collapsed.

Harry looked up at Voldemort who was now standing directly above him with a cold smile on his face. "I don't know how you've been pushing me from your mind, boy, but you're going to pay dearly for causing me pain. Crucio," Harry wreathed in agony again.

The curse was lifted again and Harry with difficulty pushed himself up again. There was no way that Voldemort was going to kill him because Harry had somehow opened his mind to the Dark Lord. Remembering all he had read, Harry concentrated all his energy, magical and physical on blocking Voldemort out.

"Avada Kedavra," Harry heard Voldemort's voice just as the blackness in his mind became white. Harry distinctly heard the faint trill of phoenix song and then with a physical bang Harry found himself on his back on the floor of the kitchen at Grimmauld Place. He was sweating profusely, breathing heavily, and shaking with pain, but he was alive.

Harry pushed himself up to a sitting position with trouble, as his limbs just didn't want to cooperate. The kitchen door burst open and the Weasley's ran in. Harry looked blurry eyed to where Snape was at the other side of the kitchen, Dumbledore was kneeling over him and he was curled in a ball against the wall, he had been in the middle of the room.

"Harry," Ron and Ginny ran to him. "Are you alright, what happened? We heard you scream," Ron asked as they knelt down beside him. Ron handed him his glass, which must have fallen off his face, and Harry put them on.

Mrs. Weasley helped Snape to a sitting position, who shot daggers at Harry with his eyes. "Yes, do tell Potter, what happened?" Snape sneered with a scratchy voice.

"It wasn't my fault. I didn't know that he could get into my mind like that. It's never happened before," Harry clenched his teeth together to keep them from chattering, he was freezing, but he didn't want anyone to know.

"You drew him in, it's the only way he could have," Snape sneered.

Harry shook with anger at Snape's words and stood up suddenly, pushing Ron and Ginny away as he did. "I did not draw him in; I-I don't even k-know how to do..." Harry's voice quivered and spots danced in his eyes. He went to take a step forward but it was as if all energy had been taken from his body and his legs could no longer support him. He collapsed just as the room started to blur in front of him.

Ron caught Harry as he fell. "Harry, are you alright? What's wrong?" he helped him to a chair.

"I- I think I was hit with the K-killing Curse," Harry said weakly and closed his eyes as the room was spinning and he could feel his arms and legs going numb. Was he dying? Harry wondered. Could the Killing Curse kill him without physically hitting him? He opened his eyes to see Dumbledore in front of him with his wand out.

"Molly get Poppy quickly please, you'll find her in Hogsmeade at the Apothecary's." Dumbledore said calmly as he ran his wand over Harry who had closed his eyes again as he was now feeling a considerable amount of pain in his left shoulder. He didn't hear Mrs. Weasley disapparate out of the room but he did hear two people Apparate back in moments later.

Panic gripped at Harry as he saw Madam Pomfrey take over for Dumbledore. He really was dying wasn't he, Voldemort had finally killed him and he indeed didn't even have to lift a finger to do it. Harry heard Madam Pomfrey cluck something and then shove a vile into his hand. "Drink it," she said, but to Harry she sounded miles away. Harry looked at her for a moment as if she had two heads, but then again to him she did, and then drank the contents of the vile in one gulp.

Harry felt a shudder run through him and then he instantly felt better, not the best he had ever felt but better. "W-what was that?" Harry asked almost instantly, he could see that Snape had a smirk on his face, as if he was laughing at him.

"Anti-venom, you must have been bitten by a spider sometime within the last couple of hours; I suggest that you watch where you sit, especially in this house. It may look well cleaned but I wager there are still quite a few nasty critters crawling around in here," Madam Pomfrey said and then bid everyone farewell and then disapparated out of the room.

As soon as Madam Pomfrey was gone Dumbledore pulled up a chair beside Harry. "You said you thought that you had been hit with the Killing Curse Harry. Why?" he asked as he sat down.

"That's because he nearly was," Snape sneered. "We both could have been killed by your stupidity, Potter."

"I already told you, I didn't know Voldemort could get into my mind like that. I've only ever been able to feel his emotions," Harry said looking at the floor; he couldn't bear to look at Snape anymore. He knew that what ever had happened was his fault, everything was always his fault, but did Snape have to remind him of that.

"Lord Voldemort was in your mind, Harry?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, I was trying to block Snape out like I do Voldemort but instead it must have somehow drawn us all into my mind. If I hadn't blocked him out when I did Voldemort would have killed both of us through me," Harry explained with clenched teeth, not looking at his headmaster's eyes.

"I think that it is best that you children be off to bed, it is getting rather late and we have had a long day." Dumbledore stood and walked to the kitchen door. "Severus could you join me in the drawing room, I would like to have a word." Dumbledore left the kitchen without looking back, Snape followed, after reluctantly being helped up by Mrs. Weasley.

Harry stayed where he was for a moment, he didn't even know if he was angry or confused, or both. Voldemort had somehow gotten drawn into his mind tonight and Dumbledore didn't even look worried and now instead of talking to him he was talking to Snape. Harry stood up and walked to the kitchen door just as the others had started leaving the room. It occurred to Harry in a second that the look on Dumbledore's face was anger. Was he angry at him? Or was it Snape? Harry thought a moment; Dumbledore hadn't even corrected him about saying Snape instead of Professor Snape, neither had Snape for that matter.

"Very good dears, you go get your rest, I promise that I'll come and get you as soon as we hear news on Remus," Mrs. Weasley said as they left the kitchen.

Harry followed Ron and Ginny up the stairs but stopped on the first floor landing. Ron stopped as he realized Harry wasn't following him upstairs.

"Umm Harry, our rooms are up one more floor, remember?" Ron said when he turned around.

"Go on, I'll be up in a minute, I forgot something in the library," it wasn't a lie, Harry did have to get his book, but that's not why he had stopped on that floor. Ron shrugged and went up stairs. Harry followed Ginny down the hall but left her at her rooms. He quickly went into the library at the end of the hall and grabbed Merlin's Diary and as soon as he saw that the hall was clear, Harry made his way to the drawing room. He stopped outside the door and put his ear to it to listen. Dumbledore and Snape were definitely in there, he could hear their words very clearly.

A/N: Who's Dumbledore so angry at, Snape or Harry?