A/N: As always, manymanymany thanks for your splendiferous reviews! I am home at last for the holidays, happily nestled in an armchair with my laptop (next to Mum, who is nestled in HER armchair, with HER laptop! Ahhh, I'll be home for Christmas!) Didn't get as much schoolwork done as I'd planned on (lazy law student that I am) but got plenty of writing done and plan to do plenty more. To my "Curse of the White Sword" readers: come hell or high water, I intend to have an update for you by Christmas! Your wait is almost over! Thank you billions for your incredible patience! And now, to my Potterverse readers, I present to you

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Chapter Seven: What Eyes Cannot See

After days of worry and waiting, the rest of Harry's friends finally got the chance to visit him. Madam Pomfrey admonished them all repeatedly not to wear her patient out, but Harry insisted he wanted to see them all.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Remus Lupin came first. Harry was a little nervous about seeing them all, but everyone repeated the litany that what had happened under the Horcrux's influence was not his fault. Mrs. Weasley's quiet gentleness was a surprise, given her usual reaction to crises, and to Harry's horror, it gave him a very persistent lump in his throat. Fortunately, she didn't require him to talk while she held him, in that motherly fashion that filled him with longing for something he'd never had.

By the time she stopped hugging him, it was hard to look at Mr. Weasley or Lupin. "Chin up, Harry," Mr. Weasley said, patting his shoulder. "It's thanks to you that the Order doesn't have to worry about Voldemort anymore." He bent down, forcing Harry to look at his face. "We're not going to let him keep hurting you after his death. All of us are working together on this."

"Thanks," he managed to say. Lupin came to sit down on the bed beside him. "Nice to see you, Professor."

"I think we're long overdue for you to call me Remus, Harry," Lupin said. Harry stared, and he smiled. "If you like."

"Molly, you are not the only one here who cares for Harry!" he had said. Harry had assumed he meant Sirius. "Yeah," he murmured. "I would…Remus."

Remus put an arm around his shoulders, giving him a little squeeze that reminded Harry of the way Sirius had hugged him. "You know, I'm sorry I wasn't closer to you after Sirius died. You understand why, don't you?"

"You were undercover for the Order," Harry said in confusion.

"But that wasn't the only reason. One of the provisions in Dolores Umbridge's anti-werewolf legislation is a restriction on people with my condition being in any extended contact with underage wizards." Remus smiled ruefully. "It was Albus's advice that I keep my distance until you were seventeen. It would be easier on both of us, because Albus couldn't be sure that the Ministry wouldn't find out if I…was as close to you as I wanted to be." Harry blinked against the sudden burning in his eyes. "I wanted to be there for you after it happened, maybe tell you a few better stories about your parents and Sirius than the ones you got from…certain people," Remus winked.

Harry had to grin. "I would've liked that too."

"There's going to be plenty of time for that now," Mrs. Weasley told him. "Now that you're of age, you're perfectly within your rights to tell the Ministry to sod…off!"

"You really think there'll be time?" Harry said before he could stop himself.

Remus squeezed his shoulders harder until Harry met his determined gaze. "Yes. There will be. A lifetime, Harry, your lifetime. And there are over two dozen people right here in this castle who intend to make sure that it is a long and happy one. You are going to be free of this," he whispered.

Harry hastily looked down, blinking hard. "I just don't know what to do. I feel stronger, but…dunno if I'll be strong enough." He forced a smile. "It hurt a lot the first time. Madam Pomfrey says I was lucky the exorcism didn't kill me before Voldemort could."

"Luck has nothing to do with it, Harry Potter," Mr. Weasley said. "You may not believe it, but those of us who have watched you grow up since you started at Hogwarts all knew long ago that you were a young man of extraordinary gifts. And only some of those gifts have to do with magical power. You survived everything that Voldemort threw at you because you were more than strong enough." He chucked Harry lightly under the chin. "Now buck up there. You might as well enjoy yourself before you and Severus have to get back to work!"

Harry groaned loudly, and they all laughed. "I was wondering, now that the Horcrux is under control, can I get out of this room?" Remus and the Weasleys exchanged confused glances. "I mean, maybe into the main Hospital Wing or something. I'm just a bit tired of the same four walls."

Remus shrugged. "I'll ask Madam Pomfrey. Don't see why not."

Madam Pomfrey saw no reason not to let Harry come out into the open wing, but Snape was against it. "The Occlusion is not foolproof. Potter should be confined until the Horcrux is removed."

"Funny, you were pretty confident in it before," Ron said.

Hermione elbowed him. "Don't make this harder," she hissed. To Snape and Madam Pomfrey, she suggested, "If you're worried about…security, why not just ward the wing so he can't leave? At least this way he'll have a little more space, not to mention some natural light," she pointed out.

"True," said Headmistress McGonagall. "He'd be more comfortable out here, I think."

"To ward the entire Hospital Wing for the sake of Harry Potter's comfort is an absurd waste of valuable time," Snape insisted. "Let him stay in that room; he'll live. And let us concentrate on more important matters than—"

"You bloody bastard!" Ron burst out, shoving past Hermione before she could stop him. To Professor McGonagall, he said, "You know, if there were two Potions that'd both work equally well, but one would hurt more, I guarantee you he'd give that one to Harry!"

"I see no value in coddling a melodramatic brat when there's work to be done," Snape shot back.

"Ron, no!" Ginny shouted, as she joined Hermione in trying to keep Ron from hexing Snape.

"He didn't mean me, he meant Harry! The man's a sadist; I still say he's done more harm than good!"

"Ron, you know Professor Snape's help is essential—" Tonks began.

"Oh, now he's a Professor again, at the same school where he killed the Headmaster—"

"QUIET!" the Headmistress roared. To Ron, she said, "Enough, Mr. Weasley. We're all well-aware of your misgivings about Severus, but he has proven himself trustworthy." To Snape, "And yes, Severus, Harry's comfort is a concern to us that we will take into account as we proceed. And you will not waste time by antagonizing the boy; he has enough to worry about." And to Tonks and Moody, "How long will it take you to ward this wing?"

"Not long," said Tonks.

"Fleur and I can help," Bill added. "We've both done this work before."

"With four of us, maybe twenty minutes," said Moody.

Hermione thought Minerva looked rather smug as she returned her gaze to Snape before telling them, "Carry on, then."

Snape made a disgusted noise, turned to go, and froze.

"It might not do you any good."

Everyone whirled toward the source of the voice, to see none other than Harry himself standing at the entrance to the private wing. He looked a little unsteady on his feet and was leaning against the wall, but grinned sheepishly. "Don't look at me, I didn't drop the wards!"

"What…on…Earth!" Madam Pomfrey sputtered.

Moody aimed his wand in Harry's direction, making Harry flinch and several of the others exclaim in protest. "Relax, I'm not going to hex him. Hmph. Wards're still up."

Professor McGonagall put her hands on her hips. "Harry Potter, there are moments when I am quite certain you do the impossible just to irritate everyone."

"How did you do that?" Ron demanded.

Harry shrugged. "Dunno. I've seen light from the windows when you come in and out, so I figured maybe I could just open the door and let it in without the wards stopping me. It worked, and then I was standing in the doorway, and…" he shrugged again. "I walked out. Nothing happened, so I kept walking."

"And here you are," Madam Pomfrey sighed theatrically. "Well, come sit down before you fall down. I've warned you not to overexert yourself."

"Sorry," Harry said (looking unrepentant), as Ron and Ginny ran to usher him to one of the beds.

"Should we still bother warding out here?" Tonks asked the Headmistress.

"Yes, do go ahead. No offense, Mr. Potter."

"None taken," Harry said, but he pulled a face when Moody pointed his wand at him.

"Just double-checking your magical—AHA! So that's how you managed it, you sneaky little devil!"

"What? What'd I do?" Harry exclaimed.

Tonks also pointed her wand at Harry. "Your magical signature's different from what it was when we set the wards. The room was warded not to let in or out anyone with that magical signature, but when yours changed…" she waved a hand at him. "Must be all this Occluding and playing about with your magical core."

"So you can't ward him in?" Ron asked.

"Maybe not," Tonks mused. To Harry, she explained, "I bet your signature changes whenever the Horcrux is in control or if they merge. Three different personalities—Harry, the Horcrux, and the two of them merged. Three different signatures. Makes it hard to keep tabs on you."

"Uh, sorry?" Harry said, and they all laughed.

"We'll ward using the signature from the room—when they were merged—and Harry's signature now," said Bill. "And next time he's asleep, we'll get the third one."

"Right, then. Let's get on with it," said Moody.

Hermione saw Harry stifle a yawn. "Tired?"

"No!" Harry said, a little too quickly.

Madam Pomfrey heard them. "I told you, Mr. Potter, you rest whenever your body needs it."

Harry grimaced. "I know, I just…"

Ron came and sat on the edge of Harry's bed. "Take it easy, mate. Nothing'll happen."

"Dunno if it's the Horcrux, but I'm having weird dreams," Harry admitted.

"Ooh," Hermione said sympathetically. "Maybe we can do something about that. Madam Pomfrey? Could Harry have Dreamless Sleep Potion?"

"I don't see why not," the Mediwitch replied. She bustled off and returned with a bottle and a cup. "Here we are." Harry took it gratefully. "Now, to bed with you. I want you getting as much rest as possible."

"Much as I can get with someone else rattling around in my brain," Harry muttered, but drank the Potion. Then he yawned more heavily. "Guess I'll see you guys later?"

"Bet on it," said Ron. Hermione grinned and took Ron's hand as Harry drifted off.

After another day of heavy research, Severus reported to the Order of his findings. "We have few options open to us. Spells or charms for expelling a deep curse or even a malevolent possession will be ineffective. Those magics cannot distinguish between two souls."

"You're thinking about another exorcism, aren't you?" said Granger.

"It remains the best, and possibly the only option," Severus told them.

"Wait a moment, Harry barely survived the last one," Tonks protested. "And that was before the Horcrux started…expanding, or whatever it's doing."

"Alternative methods of accessing and removing intruding magic from the soul are limited to begin with," Severus replied. "Only a human mind will be able to comprehend the difference between the two souls sufficiently to remove the Horcrux fragment."

Moody glowered at him. "And the fact that the method you're pushing is by far the most dangerous to Potter?"

"That's the question I was gonna ask," Ron Weasley muttered.

Severus regarded them all in disgust. "If I intended to kill Potter, I have had ample opportunity to do so without risking my own capture. In the amount of time I spent alone with him, I assure you I could have devised any number of delightfully slow and painful demises."

Several of the Weasleys growled, Granger eyed Severus warily, and even the Weasley girl glared at him. Potter, interestingly enough, was the only one who did not display any reaction as he sat solemnly between Ron and Ginevra Weasley. Granger folded her arms. "Instead of informing us for the twenty-seventh time how much you relish the thought of hurting Harry, how about explaining this exorcism plan of yours?"

"You are sufficiently book-wise, Miss Granger, you tell me," he sneered. "How would you go about distinguishing two identical magical energies whose sole identifying characteristic is purely a matter of subjective human perception?"

"I can't even pronounce that!" muttered one of the Weasley twins.

Granger glared at Severus, but translated for the others' sakes. "If you put two souls side by side, no matter how evil one is or how good the other one, magic alone can't tell them apart. Souls, minds, people, we're all made up of magical energies. We can distinguish people by their appearance, but not a soul—you can only identify it two ways: its energy or…your own judgment. Good, bad, wrong, right."

"How can you tell that?" Ron Weasley demanded.

Granger looked at Severus, but he simply raised his eyebrows. You enjoy parading your wisdom about, Miss Know-It-All, YOU explain it to them. Finally, visibly gritting her teeth, she turned to them. "Only through a magical Seeing, a ritual that lets a witch or wizard perceive magical energies that normally wouldn't be visible to the senses. Muggles call them séances, think they're a way to contact the spirits of the dead, but that's only one kind. Another kind…lets you see into a person's soul." She shot Severus another resentful glare.

They were all startled when Potter spoke up. "I know." He didn't look at Snape—come to think of it, he wasn't looking at anyone. "And an exorcism is a kind of Seeing. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to get rid of the Horcrux." He sighed, still staring at the floor. "He's right. I didn't want to try exorcising it, but that was the only way I could come up with."

"Harry, why didn't you come to the Order for help?" Tonks breathed. "If one of us had seconded, the risk would have been much less—"

"—To me, yes, but not to you!" Potter cut in. Severus couldn't deny being impressed; the brat had—for once—done his research. "There's a risk of the malignant force being exorcised crossing over into the exorcist. Only someone…" he glanced at Severus and muttered sulkily, "Only someone very adept in Mind Magic could shield himself against it."

The others exchanged uncomfortable glances, and Minerva asked quietly, "Poppy, do you think Harry is in good enough condition for a second attempt?"

Madam Pomfrey frowned. "I have serious doubts. He's much improved, but definitely not to full strength, and even a guided exorcism will be extremely taxing. There's a risk to them both." She looked reluctantly at Minerva. "Then again, I suppose we knew any choice would be."

"What can we do?" Lupin asked. "There must be some way we can help prepare Harry, to give you the best chance of success."

Severus considered it. "I would advise attempting a milder Seeing before the exorcism. Potter may be able to navigate his own perception of his own soul, but I would prefer to see where I'm going."

Potter looked doubtful. "I wouldn't call it navigating last time, just wandering around."

"That wandering was probably instinct, Harry," said Granger.

Severus snorted. For all the strategic instinct that little idiot possesses, he'd have been dead long ago but for his overabundance of luck. "In any case, returning to the manifestation might provide clues as to what went wrong in your previous attempt. That the Dark Lord is dead proves that the emotional expulsion agent was valid, and to my knowledge, you prepared the ritual accurately. Therefore, it would seem that we must find another means of expelling the Dark Lord's soul."

"You mean I should have used love and something else too?" Potter asked.

"It was a good idea," said Ginevra Weasley, with her hand on his back. "That's what I would have picked."

"However," Severus said impatiently. "It would appear that there is something else, some other action or emotion, that can cancel the essence of the Dark Lord. We must find it, and be certain it is correct. We cannot afford a second failure, as I doubt your soul or body would survive a third attempt."

"That's comforting," someone grumbled.

But neither Potter, nor his friends, nor any member of the Order could seem to come up with anything more repellant to the Dark Lord than love. "We're sure it was the expulsion agent that was wrong?" Tonks asked as she rooted through some of the texts Severus had acquired.

"We have gone over Potter's preparation of the ritual several times. If there had been a problem with the Seeing part itself, he would not have been able to destroy any part of the Horcrux," Severus told her.

"I hope this Seeing gives us some ideas," Potter said as he and his friends sat with a pile of books on the boy's bed.

"Perhaps there's some Muggle trick that might work," suggest Arthur Weasley, coming to join them. "Voldemort wouldn't like anything Muggle-related. Do Muggles do anything like exorcisms?"

Granger let out an uncharacteristic snort. "In a manner of speaking," the girl giggled.

What obscure Muggle reference she was making, Snape didn't know, but Potter, Lupin, and Tonks (in other words, every half-blood in the room) began laughing as well. Potter raised his hands defensively. "No way, I draw the line at THAT!"

"What?" several Weasleys demanded.

"You don't want to know," Granger told them. "Anyway, trust me, Mr. Weasley, it wouldn't be useful." She pulled an utterly ridiculous face, which set Potter and the others laughing again.

"Dudley loved that film," Potter gasped, wiping his eyes.

"I'm surprised that cousin of yours could understand it!"

"I doubt he did; he just liked watching her head spin around."

Severus slapped his book closed, which finally stopped their giggling. "Well, Potter, are you ready?"

"Whenever you are, sir," the boy said insolently.

"Then let's begin," Severus led him over to where Bill Weasley and Moody were setting up their Seeing Circle.

Madam Pomfrey placed a charm that would alert her if either Snape or Potter was in any distress. "If I give the signal, we must blow out the candles at once. That will end it."

Granger, Ginevra Weasley, Minerva, Tonks, and Poppy each knelt before a candle. Severus motioned Potter to kneel, facing him, inside the circle. Two small bunches of herbs had been placed between them, on opposite ends of the circle. Potter copied Severus in placing his wand lengthwise in front of his knees, but Severus had to put a hand under the boy's chin to make him keep eye contact.

"'My mind to your mind, your thoughts to my thoughts,'" Tonks suddenly intoned. Granger and Potter both burst into giggles.

"Pay attention!" Severus snapped at him. The boy got himself under control, and Severus held out his hands, palm up. Potter hesitated. "I am no happier about this than you."

Potter snorted, but laid his palms on top of Snape's. The smoke from the magical herbs quickly blocked all view of anything outside the circle. Severus closed his eyes. Potter's remained open, so that it was his soul they would see. The smoke burned at Snape's nose: incense, elfweed, rosemary. It made him light-headed, feeling as though he were lifting off the floor of the hospital wing and floating in space, feeling strangely weightless. He opened his eyes again.

They were surrounded by darkness, standing now even though neither of them had moved to rise to his feet.

And they were not alone.

Soft voices, the whispers of hundreds, drifted through the dark, and Severus and Potter were surrounded by a milling crowd of people. Severus recognized most of them, but noticed that many looked slightly different from how he knew them to look in life. Hermione Granger regarded them as she walked aimlessly past, with a poise and confidence that the real girl most certainly did not possess. Sirius Black was also a much-glorified version of the real article, and while Ginevra Weasley was not a plain young woman, she was not nearly so serene and beautiful as Potter evidently saw her.

On the other hand, while Severus knew himself to be a less than handsome man, he was hardly as vile as the counterpart that inhabited Potter's psyche. But it amused him. "I take it your soul reflects your feelings towards these people, not their true selves."

Their voices echoed strangely, not in their ears exactly. The darkness was not absolute, like space, but rather had a strange, smoky quality, although Severus could feel nothing damp or physical against his skin. Potter moved in front of him, looking troubled. "Something's not right."

"What?"

"I'm not sure." The boy looked around. Severus was startled to notice that Potter himself was different here. He looked younger. Especially with the apprehensive expression he was currently wearing. "I don't think he's here. Voldemort, I mean. We should see him, right?"

"Your soul, Potter, you tell me."

Potter crossed his arms as though he were cold and shook his head, talking more to himself than to Snape. "Something's wrong."

The shadowy people milled around them, and Severus observed that they only looked at Potter. The ethereal Hermione Granger suddenly paused. "Harry." Her voice was strangely muted, as if Severus was hearing it through a pane of glass. He and Potter stared at her. "He's not here."

"What?" Potter blurted.

Severus rolled his eyes. "Where is he, then?"

Granger did not appear to hear him. Potter approached her. "I don't understand."

"You've been here already, mate," said Ron Weasley from behind them.

"You have to go on," Granger said. "You're running out of time."

"Go on where?" Potter asked, shooting Severus a baffled glance. "Where's he gone?"

"It's not he who's gone," Granger told him. "You've gone."

"You're on the edge, mate," said Weasley. "You need to stop the war and come back."

"But the war's over," Potter protested.

"What are they talking about?" Severus demanded.

"Dunno," Potter said. He looked around again. "But this place doesn't feel right. Not like last time. The darkness, it's…thicker, I guess. Could it…could the darkness be the Horcrux?"

"It's possible that it represents the encroachment of the Horcrux," Severus mused. "And yet your friends tell you that your foe is not here."

"I don't think this is the end of my soul," the boy said. He shivered, then stumbled as he turned around, and Severus steadied him. "There must be another place. That's where Voldemort's gone. But why would they say I've gone too?"

"Did you see a representation of yourself last time?"

Potter shook his head and shivered again. "I don't see anything now either, but I feel…like I'm in danger. Maybe we both are, I'm not sure."

"Don't let him push you over, Harry," Ginevra Weasley's shade told him. "You'll only fall if you give in."

"Ginny, I don't understand," Potter insisted. "Where am I supposed to go?"

"Can't you see the way?" Granger asked.

"No," Potter whispered. "It's too dark. Is it because of him?"

"Oh, Harry, no," she said, with a look of pity. "It's not only him." She gestured to the dark around them. "It's you." Potter's eyes widened in shock, and he backed away as she held out her hand. "We're trying to help you see. We've always tried. Trust us!"

The boy glanced at Severus, looking so genuinely frightened that Severus was startled. He took a step closer to Potter. "I think your friends are trying to aid you."

"I don't know. I don't understand any of this."

"Perhaps responding to her is better than groping around in the dark," Severus suggested. Potter still wavered. "Do you not trust her?"

He shrugged. "I just…" Granger still hand her hand outstretched. Slowly, Potter went back toward her and took it. He flinched as if expecting some danger, and when nothing happened, he relaxed. "I'm sorry. I didn't know…" He looked sheepishly back at Severus, then his eyes widened.

Severus turned and saw part of the darkness fading to reveal a door. "As usual, Miss Granger does the thinking for you."

"Thanks, Hermione." Potter released his shadowy friend's hand and walked past Snape. "Do you hate her for being Muggleborn, or because she's the only student you ever had who's smarter than you?" he asked slyly.

Before Severus could retort, there was a brilliant flash in the darkness, like lightning, and Potter cried out. He grabbed the boy. "What is it?"

Potter seemed to be in physical pain as a spasm gripped his entire body. Light flashed in Snape's eyes again—

Then his eyes flew open, and the smell of burnt herbs made him cough. The smoke cleared away and shouts reached his ears just as Potter's eyes rolled back. Severus lunged forward and caught him before he hit the floor. "Poppy!"

"Get him on the bed!"

Bill Weasley grabbed Potter's other side, and they rushed the boy to the nearest bed. Poppy bent over him, and Tonks hissed an oath. "He's not breathing!"

"Harry?" Ron Weasley squeaked as his mother pulled him away.

"Stand back, Ron, let them work!"

Poppy fired off a spell. "Ordiri Respiro!" Nothing. The boy's eyes were tightly closed, and his lips were turning blue. "Enervate! Experpulmo! Dammit, he's not responding."

"Oh my god…" someone whimpered.

Tonks hit Potter with a Shock Spell. "Whatever's happened, it's rendered him impervious to magical cures."

"I'm losing his pulse!" Bill Weasley yelled.

"Come on, Harry!" Tonks cried, shaking the boy vigorously, apparently for lack of any other solution.

Granger pushed past Weasley as Poppy ran for a Potion. "Let me try something!"

"Granger, you don't know—" Severus tried to pull her back, but she shoved him so hard he nearly fell over his feet.

"MOVE!" the girl shouted at Tonks and bent over Potter's form. As the stunned onlookers watched, Granger pressed her lips to Potter's and blew air down his throat. Once, twice, three times.

"That's impossible, it's stale air," Severus began.

"Shut up!" Granger puffed five more breaths into the boy and felt his pulse. "Come on, Harry!" She breathed into him again. Once, twice—

Potter's eyes flew wide open as a wheezing gasp arched his entire body—a gasp echoed by nearly everyone else in the room. Then he dropped back onto the bed and started to cough, squeezing his eyes shut. Poppy, rushing back with a Potion, stared at Granger. "Hermione…"

The girl climbed off Potter and shot the Healer a disgusted look. "Don't tell me no one in the wizarding world has heard of cardiopulmonary resuscitation!"

"Cardio-what?" Ron Weasley exclaimed.

"I haven't," Poppy said gravely. "And I would like you to teach it to me at the earliest opportunity."

"With pleasure," Granger growled, and returned her attention to Potter, muttering something about "bloody wizard prejudices." She tapped his cheek. "Harry? You hear me?" Potter finally stopped coughing, opened his eyes—and bared his teeth, giving a serpentine hiss. Granger screamed and leapt backwards.

She didn't need to explain. Severus had his wand ready as he lunged for the bed, and incanted Legilimens before the boy had time to move. The spell carried him through the red-glinted eyes; as he'd expected, the near-death experience had dropped the Occlusion. Severus was weary already from the Seeing, but they needed Potter's insight about what had happened.

The Occlusions had not completely failed, so it was less difficult than before to build the wall back up separating the two souls, and then the secondary Occlusion that kept the malevolent personality of the Dark Lord below Potter's conscious mind so that his own personality would dominate. Not that Potter's own personality wasn't obnoxious enough in his own right.

Some time later, he sat back on the edge of the bed, blinking and rubbing his eyes. Potter was doing the same. "Bloody-hell," the boy muttered.

Poppy bent over him, forced a Potion down his throat, and tried a spell to improve his breathing. "Magic is working fine on you now. It didn't earlier."

The boy coughed again, rubbing his neck. "Blimey, he was ticked off about something," he rasped.

"Whadda you mean?" Ron Weasley demanded, coming to Potter's side.

Potter looked wryly at him. "We share the same memory, remember? I remember how he felt, just now." He shook his head. "Not happy at all. And I think I know why."

Severus sighed heavily. "Pray, enlighten us, Mr. Potter."

Potter shot him an annoyed look. "I think I know why I stopped breathing during the Seeing: we must have been on to something. Thanks, by the way," he said to Granger.

The girl swatted him. "I wasn't about to just stand there and let you die."

"Oh. Well, thanks for that too, but I was also thanking you for something else. I'll explain later," Potter told her with a cheeky grin, but then his face turned serious. "I…I think I may know how to get him out."

To be continued…

Coming next week: The Seeing has been a revelation of sorts for Harry, but some of his discoveries do not sit very well with Snape. Tensions and frustrations build, and tempers start to flare in Chapter Eight: Bitter Pills!

PLEASE don't forget to review! All I want for Christmas are your reviews! Share holiday spirit, and I shall gift my merry readers with many more updates in the coming days!