Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.
A/N: Thank you for your reviews and encouragement! =)
Snape watched, horrified, as Harry fell to his knees, holding his head and began screaming in pain. He quickly knelt down, prying one of Harry's hands from his forehead and taking notice of how red and inflamed his scar looked. "Harry, it's going to be okay," He said as he wrapped his arms around his son. "Occlude Harry. Try to clear your mind."
"Can't," Harry croaked as he leaned against his dad for support. He automatically went to claw at his burning scar but his dad grabbed his hand and held it tight.
"Accio Harry's pain reliever," Snape murmured. After the last episode Harry had had, he had worked on making a stronger pain reliever for him. He could only hope it would work.
Snape held the vial up to Harry's lips. "Come on, you need to drink this," He coaxed. He managed to get Harry to swallow the potion and then summoned a cloth which he quickly cast a water charm on so that it would be cool. He held it up to Harry's scar. He kept whispering words of encouragement as he waited to see if the pain subsided. "Clear your mind Harry. You are in control, not him."
Harry closed his eyes and focused and soon the pain faded and he didn't hear Voldemort's voice in his head anymore. To his chagrin he realized he had been crying and hastily wiped at his eyes. "I'm okay," He said shakily.
Snape helped him up and over to the sofa. "Do you feel like you might be sick?"
"No," Harry answered wearily. "I feel okay."
"What happened?"
"I could hear him," Harry whispered. "Like before, only this time it was like he knew he was talking to me. He knew about the blood quill, said I should get used to suffering. That everyone I cared about would suffer," Harry shuddered. "He said it would be soon."
Snape took a deep breath. "He is obviously aware of the connection you two share but he is still weak. He is just trying to scare you."
"It worked," Harry tried to joke.
Snape put his arm around his shoulders. "You did well; you closed your mind to him."
"Only barely," Harry mumbled. "I think it was more he couldn't hold the connection any longer."
"You will get better," Snape assured him. "Eventually, you will be able to occlude without even thinking about it and he won't be able to get inside your head at all. I imagine in his already weakened state that this drained him even further. He likely won't try again anytime soon." I hope.
Harry nodded, closing his eyes and leaning back. He was exhausted.
Snape kept his arm around Harry's shoulder until the he fell asleep. Carefully so that he would not wake him, he slipped his arm from Harry's shoulders and gently guided him so that he was lying on the sofa, a pillow under his head. He summoned a blanket and covered him, plucking the glasses off his face and putting them on the coffee table. He then stalked to his fireplace and threw in a handful of floo powder. "Albus Dumbledore!"
Dumbledore's face appeared in the green flames. "Severus?"
"Could you come through please?" Snape tried to keep his voice quiet and steady.
"Of course my boy," A moment later Dumbledore stepped through. He noticed Harry asleep and smiled softly. His smile faded at the strained look on his potion master's face. "What has happened?"
Snape motioned for him to follow him into the kitchen and cast a spell so that they wouldn't waken Harry. "We were getting ready for an Occlumency lesson when Harry felt extreme pain in his scar. He could hear Voldemort's voice in his head, mocking him over the blood quill and telling him that he and everyone he care for would suffer," Snape paced back and forth. "He was in so much pain…" He trailed off and shook his head. "I gave him a stronger pain reliever that I have been working on and he tried to occlude, I believe he achieved it at least a little."
"I would assume Voldemort has exhausted himself to get to Harry," Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "I do not believe he is near the castle but it is concerning that he is clearly getting so confident as to provoke him. I imagine he was pleased to make the connection." He said slowly. "It is also concerning he knew about the blood quill since that was being kept quiet as to keep Harry out of the papers."
"Shocking that someone at the Ministry is leaking information," Severus said snidely.
"Really Severus," Dumbledore sighed. "We don't know if it is someone at the Ministry, though it is the most likely answer. If someone was merely leaking information the Daily Prophet would have written about Harry."
"So it is whoever is the one helping Voldemort," Severus said flatly.
"That is my guess," Dumbledore agreed.
Snape stared blankly at the wall for a moment. "I want to protect him."
"You are protecting him already," Dumbledore said gently. "Harry knows he is not alone and you are training him as well. Continue your extra defence lessons with him and occlumency."
"Isn't there more we could be doing?"
"I have Order members working and I am looking into a few ideas to help defeat Voldemort," Dumbledore said, a little hesitantly. He cleared his throat. "Continue as you are with Harry, he is protected here at the castle."
Snape nodded. "I am thinking of telling him he can't take part of Hogsmeade weekends," He said, unhappy with the thought of doing it. "If Voldemort has someone working with him and wants to get to Harry…"
Dumbledore looked thoughtful. "I understand your concern but as Voldemort is not yet back I doubt he had immediate plans to capture Harry. Voldemort is arrogant and I believe will want to be at full strength and in front of his followers when he faces him. It is your decision of course. If it would make you feel better, I could contact the Ministry and have Aurors in Hogsmeade on those visits." Dumbledore offered.
Snape nodded slowly. "That would make me feel better. I hate to restrict him from going unless it is absolutely necessary. I won't embarrass him by insisting I tag along," He grinned slightly. "Perhaps an Auror or another professor could stay with him and the group."
"We will work it out," Dumbledore assured Snape.
HP
Harry was grumbling as he returned to the Slytherin common room. After he had woken up, feeling completely better, his dad had stressed the importance of continuing their lessons which Harry had agreed they needed to do. Then he had dropped the bomb about Harry needing a babysitter for Hogsmeade weekends.
"It's not a babysitter," Snape had said patiently. "For your safety and everyone else's, there will be Aurors around in Hogsmeade to keep an eye on things."
"Yeah, but you said an Auror or professor is going to be assigned to stay with me and my friends!" Harry had exclaimed.
"They won't interfere, they will just stay near in case something were to happen," Snape had raised an eyebrow. "These are your choices. Accept whoever is assigned to you, have me be the one to go with you, or do not go at all."
Harry had made a face and mumbled that he would take the first choice.
"Wise decision," His father had said.
"Harry!" Daphne greeted him when he walked into the common room. "I almost thought you were going to stay overnight in your quarters since it's so late."
"I almost did," Harry said as he sat next to her on one of the sofas. At first his dad had wanted him to in case his scar bothered him more but after seeing that Harry was upset about Hogsmeade, suggested he go be with his friends and let him know if his scar started up again. "My dad wanted to keep an eye on me because of my scar."
Daphne frowned. "Did it bother you again?" By now Draco, Theo and Tracey had joined them on the sofa.
"Yeah, Voldemort basically attacked me through my scar," Harry admitted.
"What?" Daphne whispered in horror.
"Wait, tell us exactly what happened," Draco said.
"I was about to have an Occlumency lesson when my scar began to hurt so badly I couldn't even stand. I could hear Voldemort's voice in my head, mocking and threatening me." Harry couldn't help but shudder as he remembered. "I tried to shut him out but I'm not very good at that yet. I'm okay now," He assured his friends when he saw their concerned expressions.
"You heard him in your head?" Theo looked sick at the thought.
"Yeah, he was promising suffering for me and those I care about," Harry said. He took a deep breath. "Listen, being my friend right now is getting more dangerous. Ron and Hermione already have been hurt in the past because they were helping me and now things are going to get worse –"
"Enough," Daphne said, a determined look in her eyes. "You better not be suggesting that we abandon you."
"Yeah prat, what kind of friends would we be if we did that?" Draco asked with an insulted look.
"It's our war too," Tracey insisted.
"We're with you one hundred percent of the way, whether you like it or not," Theo added.
A feeling of warmth spread through Harry at their declarations. He could tell they meant what they said and knew Hermione and Ron would feel the same way. "Thank you," He said quietly. "I just don't want anyone to get hurt."
"You-Know, erm, I mean Voldemort would be after us anyway," Theo pointed out. "We're not on his side."
"That's true," Harry said. "You guys are great, thank you."
"Besides, we are learning to defend ourselves through the D.A.," Tracey said cheerfully. "Are we still going to continue that?"
"Good question," Harry said as he considered. "Remus is back teaching so we'll be learning in class finally." He mused.
"Might be cool to still continue the D.A. though," Theo said. "Give everyone extra defence time, especially to anyone struggling with what we learn in class."
"I guess we'll keep it going then," Harry grinned. He liked the idea of everyone getting their best chance to learn to defend themselves, danger was coming and they needed every advantage.
HP
Harry was surprised and pleased to see not only Remus when he went to Defence class but Sirius as well. He grinned at them as he took his seat.
"Hello everyone," Remus greeted after his students had taken their seats. "It is good to be here."
"Welcome back Professor," Hermione said, leading others to say the same.
"Thank you everyone," Remus smiled. "I regret that you had to be subjected to someone as vile as Umbridge." His eyes gazed at Harry for a moment. "I hope we can move on and make this class an enjoyable one for you as well as one where you learn skills that will aid you in the coming war."
"Sir, you actually believe that You-Know-Who is coming back?" Seamus called out, an annoyed expression on his face.
"Yes I do," Remus said quietly.
Seamus rolled his eyes. He had liked Lupin third year but obviously he was just another teacher who believed anything Potter said. McLaggen had warned him that Lupin would just be another professor to favor Potter. 'What can you expect from a werewolf anyway?' Cormac had said.
"I take it you don't think so," Remus said.
"No. You-Know-Who is gone," Seamus said confidently. "Potter just wants attention and is being pandered to by the Headmaster. Why else would he hire a were -" He paused, closing his mouth.
"Seamus, shut up!" Dean whispered angrily to him.
"I'd take the advice of your friend there," Sirius spoke up in a dangerous voice.
Harry had clenched his hands into fists, struggling not to start yelling at his fellow Gryffindor. If Seamus wanted to put him down, then fine. But he had no right to attack anyone else.
"I'm sure you all remember that I am a werewolf," Remus said politely. "I want to assure anyone who is worried that I am under strict supervision and am taking a potion that makes me not dangerous." As long as I remember to take it, he thought ruefully. "That is why my friend Sirius Black is here. I wanted you to meet him as the there will be days I will need my classes covered while I recover from the full moon."
"Unbelievable," Blaise muttered from where he sat in the back with Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Did you have something to say?" Remus asked politely.
"I'm sorry…Sir but I find it laughable that we are to be taught by a werewolf and a former Azkaban prisoner," Blaise sneered.
"Yeah, we were fine with the previous professor," Pansy spoke out with a cruel smile at Harry. "She at least saw certain students for the attention seeking brats that they are."
Without thinking, Harry stood up with his wand in his hand, a fierce glare on his face.
"Harry," Daphne tugged on his arm, although she was glaring at Blaise and Pansy as well.
"Sit down Harry, it is okay," Remus said. He casually walked to the back. "You are certainly allowed your opinion of course." He said calmly to Blaise. "However, you are to be respectful in my classroom. If you truly have a problem with my teaching, you know where the door is." He stared at Blaise until the Slytherin looked away. He headed back to the front of the room and clapped his hands together. "I gather you have not learned much in class but I'm sure some of you have been studying…on your own."
Harry exchanged grins with his friends at the subtle acknowledgement to the D.A.
For the first part of class, Remus went through the disarming, stunning and shielding spell. He knew from Harry that the members of the D.A. had already learned these spells but since not everyone was part of that club, he taught it as if everyone was on the same level.
"Who wants to try?" Remus asked after he and Sirius had demonstrated. "Harry and who else? Mr. Zabini?" He hesitated when he saw the boy raise his hand.
"I'd like to try sir," Blaise said in an overly polite voice.
Remus nodded and pointed to the front of the classroom. "All right, one of you cast a stunning spell and the other will cast a shield."
"Mind if I try the stunning spell?" Blaise asked Harry with a bright smile.
Harry narrowed his eyes. "No." He held out his wand, ready for the spell to be cast. "I'm ready."
Blaise gave a sly grin. "Confringo!" He shouted, pointing his wand which emitted an orange light.
Something about the way Blaise had grinned at him put Harry on alert and he focused to make his shield as powerful as he could. "Protego!" The blasting curse that Blaise had sent was strong and Harry struggled to hold his shield and not fall over.
"Mr. Zabini!" Remus stormed over to the grinning Slytherin and glowered at him. "I said to cast the stunning spell!"
"Harry, are you alright?" Sirius hurried over to his godson, who was shaking slightly.
"Yeah, just wasn't expecting that," Harry panted. That spell had been strong and if he hadn't already been so familiar with the shielding charm he had a feeling he would either be in the infirmary right now or Filch would be sweeping what was left of him up.
"You should be ashamed of yourself Mr. Zabini," Remus scolded. "You could have killed him! That is not a spell that has been taught yet, it is a seventh year spell."
"So? Some of us learn advanced spells at home," Blaise said with a smirk.
"Good for you. But you will not use them here until you are instructed to," Remus snapped. "Fiftyy points from Slytherin and detention with Mr. Filch."
Blaise's face darkened.
"I will be speaking to your Head of House about this as well," Remus continued. "Go sit down and if you cause any more disruptions I will take you to see the Headmaster. Go!"
Blaise stomped back to his seat, a dangerous glare on his face.
Remus took a breath to calm his anger and put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "You did very well. Are you sure you are okay?"
"I'm good," Harry assured him.
"Twenty points for an excellent shield," Remus said quietly. He knew Harry's points would be divided between Gryffindor and Slytherin which meant Slytherin would still be down forty points. He wanted to make an impression on Zabini and knew that any point loss in the Slytherin House was taken very seriously.
Harry sat down after giving his friends a reassuring look. He was fuming at Blaise's little display and wished he knew better shields. The Protego had almost not held.
After letting several students try the exercise, Remus moved on to what their next lesson would be.
"Does anyone know what the Reductor Curse is?" Remus asked. Several hands raised and he called on Hermione.
"It can be used to blast solid objects into pieces, to even reduce a target to a fine mist or a pile of ashes," Hermione answered. It was a curse that the D.A. had started reading about in preparation for trying it out.
"Correct, five points to Gryffindor," Remus said. "We will be reading and talking about that curse today and trying it out."
"You need a target," Sirius said from where he leaned against the wall. His eyes traveled to Blaise and he gave him a smirk.
Blaise paled.
Remus gave Sirius a disapproving look. "We will be practicing on tables, chairs and shelves. This spell must be treated with great care and practice as it can be very powerful," Remus warned. "It will require all of your focus."
After assigning an essay on the Reductor Curse and dismissing class, Remus held back Harry. "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have let him be a part of the demonstration," he said unhappily.
"It's not your fault Mooney," Sirius protested. "You're supposed to give all the students a chance, even a little twerp like Zabini."
Harry snickered.
"Yeah, but he was giving attitude all through class." Remus sighed. "I thought if I showed some trust, the attitude would change. That it was more about me than about Harry."
"It's okay. I'm okay," Harry assured them. "Zabini doesn't like me, doesn't think I should be a part of Slytherin House."
"Well, we'll see what your father has to say about what happened," Remus said.
Sirius gave a slow grin. "You know, it almost makes one feel bad for the little twerp. Almost."
TBC: