Disclaimer: I claim nothing, save the right to dream. I get nothing, save some pleasure from this process.

Note: Italic means Severus Snape's… uh… well… remarks and charms, so to say. And two small "stars" (# #) indicate Harry Potter's own ideas and reactions.

A Master of Dreams

by Linda-Nairika

Severus Snape, a Potions Master, could have bragged of a rich collection of atypical awakenings; however it was the first time in his life, when he woke up because a phoenix was prancing on him. Having noticed, that the Potion Master had opened his eyes, Fawkes ceased running all over his chest and began to clap its wings, obviously concerned.

"What is the matter?"

Certainly, the wonderful creature did not answer; instead, its beak seized a lock of the professor's hair and pulled, hinting clearly that it was necessary to get up urgently and to rush somewhere. Again.

Snape shook his head, getting rid of a slight fog of the Dreamless Sleep Potion, muttered something highly uncomplimentary about Merlin's beard, cautiously removed the phoenix from himself and got out from under his blanket.

Trousers - a shirt - shoes - a robe and a little of cold water. The same collection of atypical awakenings allowed him to manage everything within one minute and a half. Fawkes soared up and flew by him, having touched his temple with its soft feathers.

"Well, where to?.."

In the hospital wing he was met by madam Pomfrey, however Snape received no explanations from her because as soon as she spoke his name anxiously, the Headmaster's voice carried out from behind a half-opened door of one of the chambers, as if echoing her exclamation - "Severus!"

In the chamber, besides Dumbledore, there was… well, certainly… the Greatest Treasure of Hogwarts. Some accident on the training, the Gryffindors discussed it... But in fact madam Pomfrey had already stated that a trauma was minor…

"Severus, what took you so long?" Dumbledore looked up at the Potions Master atop of his glasses. "Has anything happened?"

"Dreamless Sleep Potion," Snape replied laconically and added a little more sharply, "Beg you pardon."

The Headmaster sighed heavily. "You have nothing to apologize, my dear boy. I am sorry…"

"What's going on, Albus?" Snape interrupted.

"Voldemort. He seems to have entered Harry's mind again and locked the boy in a nightmare. Poppy had woken up because he cried and called for mother. She tried to wake him up, but to no avail, then she sent for me." Dumbledore carefully touched Harry's cheek, wet with tears; the boy moved a little and sniffed. "I have tried everything, but he just doesn't wake up."

"Why cannot you simply block the intruder out?"

"Because Voldemort is deep inside, so he can shuffle images and events as a storyteller, ruling his own fantasy world. If I break in from outside and destroy the trap, it can cost the boy his sanity because now he lives in Voldemort's imaginary space, which is more real to him than ours. Severus, there is only one way out."

"Meaning?.."

"You have to get into Harry's mind and change that dream-reality for him."

"I?.."

"Who else?"

"You, for one," the Potions Master pointed out dryly.

The Headmaster shook his head. "You know the Dark Lord's mind ways much better than I, and he should not distinguish that someone has interfered. Besides…" Dumbledore interrupted himself because Harry moaned again, rolling his head heavily over his hot pillow. "Severus, for Merlin's sake, don't lose any more time!"

"And how do you see the process itself?" the Potions Master inquired darkly, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "A duel on fairy-tales with the greatest legilimentor of the wizardry world, yourself excluded?"

"Severus, that's a brilliant idea!" Apparently Dumbledore decided to not notice the irony. "Transform this nightmare into a fairy-tale with a happy-end. And be careful."

Snape snorted, "Your trust in my abilities is just amazing, Albus."

"It's well-based, is it not?" The headmaster squeezed the young professor's shoulder lightly.

The Potions Master murmured something indecipherable and covered Harry's hand with his palm:

"Legilimens Praesentarium Occlusus."