The rest of the day passed without an incident. And way too soon Harry was back in the Defense classroom, knocking at the office door.

"Enter" Osborn barked.

Harry entered. Osborn was at her desk going over some papers. She did not even lift her eyes when Harry came in. She gestured him to the chair in front of her. He waited as she finished reading and she finally met her eyes. She retrieved her notebook from under her desk.

"Potter," she began, as she picked up a quill. "I am a bit troubled by what happened this morning. Can you explain to me your sudden anger burst at Mr Finnegan?"

Harry shifted in his chair, he was feeling horrible about the matter.

"Look, Professor, I know I shouldn't have yelled at him. I know I shouldn't care. But I felt suddenly so angry, and honestly I'm not so sure I know why."

Osborn sighed.

"I warned you about your temper. It is not only for your own mental health but you do realize that every outburst like this is likely to confirm the Ministry's allegation regarding your mental state ? And therefore completely ridicule any claim you can make about Voldemort's return ?" This time she looked worried.

"I know that Professor. I just don't know how to control myself. Every time I get angry it's like there's a voice at the back of my head that urges me to continue." Harry had never talked about this before. In fact the voice had become more and more present since he had been rescued from the Dursleys. The nightmares were getting worse too. He had always had trouble sleeping but they had been so bad, Harry was actually terrified to go to sleep.

"What are you thinking about Potter?" Osborn asked curiously. Harry must have been silent for a while.

"I need to tell you something. It's not something I like talking about." he said very quietly.

Osborn simply nodded and waited for Harry to continue.

Harry took a deep breath to settle him before he revealed the thing that was frightening him.

"I have nightmares. Mind you I always had nightmares. But lately they've been different. More realistic I guess. And I can't sleep. I am scared to sleep now. Professor I feel like I'm going insane."

Osborn stayed silent for a moment and then asked

"Can you tell me what those nightmares are about ?"

Harry snorted

"Voldemort of course. I thought it was obvious. Each time I go to sleep, I see him. Talking to his followers, I had vision of him before, but never at this magnitude. It's because of my scar you see." He gestured to his scar and went on. "Dumbledore thinks we have a kind of link, that allows me to see what he does when he's angry or afraid or even happy. And lately I've had visions every night."

Osborn was staring at him. Her expression unreadable as ever.

"Have you informed the Headmaster about the latest development ?" She asked

"I.. No. I did not think about that. I did not think it was affecting me so much."

"I see." Osborn suddenly got up. She lit a fire and grabbed Harry by the shoulder. She threw a bit of floo powder in and spoke "Headmaster's office!" Harry felt once again his body rocking from side to side and they got out of the Headmaster's fireplace.

Dumbledore was seating at his desk and smiled as he saw Osborn and Harry coming out of the fireplace.

"Jane, Harry. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit ?" His eyes were twinkling and he was staring at them through his half moon spectacles.

"Potter has something he wishes to speak to you about sir." Osborn said.

"Sure. Sit down Harry. Lemon drops ?" Dumbledore asked showing Harry the bowl of sweets. He declined, he could not eat anything. Osborn took one however, she grinned at the sweet and put it in her mouth. She looked a bit childish.

"They never had them in France. I love those little things" She said realizing Harry was looking at her strangly.

"Yes. I seem to recall a significant drop in my supplies every time you were sitting here dear." Dumbledore said, chuckling before turning his attention back on Harry.

"So Harry. You had something to tell me ?"

Harry met the Headmaster's eyes and suddenly felt an urge to slit the old wizard's throat. He was grabbing the arm of the chair he was in.

Then in an instant he was no longer in the Headmaster's office. He was standing in a great dining room. Surrounded by his faithful Death Eaters.

"You are an old fool Dumbledore. You are weak. I am going to rip you apart." Harry hissed, stocking his snake.

Then Harry was once again in the Headmaster's office, breathing quickly, sweating heavily. He was on the floor and Osborn was helping him up.

"Professor, It was him. I.. I don't.. I don't understand." Harry said getting up. Dumbledore suddenly stood up and placed himself directly behind Harry.

"Do not look at me Harry. I know it wasn't you talking to us just know. The connection between you and Voldemort is still strong. I had hoped he wouldn't have noticed the connection this soon. Harry, when you were looking at me, how did you feel ?"

Harry was confused. Voldemort knew they were connected. It was bad. Very bad.

"I felt, like I wanted to strangle you sir. But I don't want to do that. I don't want to hurt you sir." He said desperate for Dumbledore to understand.

"I know Harry. Do not fear. I know you would never willingly hurt me. Jane please got get Severus, if he's sleeping, wake him up. Quickly please."

Harry saw Osborn reluctantly leave his side and running towards the fireplace.

"Professor," Harry said, trying to not look at the Headmaster. "Am I loosing my mind ?"

Harry heard Dumbledore sighing behind him.

"No Harry. You are quite sane. I think Voldemort is using the connection that exists between your minds to torture you. To make you believe you are loosing your mind."

Harry heard the man pacing.

"Sir. Is Voldemort aware I can see into his mind as well as he can see in mine?" Harry asked.

"I am unsure. He may only be aware of the connection from him to you and not the other way around."

"Can't we use this to know what he is up to ?" Harry asked, excited at the prospect of being finally useful.

Dumbledore suddenly put a hand on Harry's shoulder.

" You can't Harry. Whatever you do. Promise me you won't try to force this connection. It will drive you mad. Voldemort's been penetrating the mind of his victims to torture them into insanity. He may not know about you seeing what he sees, but he will eventually and he will use it against you. I can promise you that. Swear you are not going to use this." His voice was pleading. "Please Harry, promise me." His voice dropped to a whisper and Harry felt the urgency in his voice. Dumbledore was begging. He had never heard the Headmaster beg before. It made Harry's body shiver.

"I promise sir."

Dumbledore's grip tightened for a second and the fireplace burst into green flames. Snape came out followed by Osborn. He quickly nodded to Dumbledore and stared at Harry.

"You asked to see me sir?" Snape looked tired. Sick even. His face was grey and he looked 10 years older than Harry had remembered him.

"Ah Severus. Yes. I need to speak with you. Jane, will you bring Harry to Madam Pomfrey, see that she gives him Dreamless sleep potion. Harry, you need to sleep without worrying. Have a good night." Osborn gestured Harry to leave and they both exited the Headmaster's office.

The castle was quiet. Every step they took echoed in the deserted corridors. Harry did not feel like talking. Osborn either. She was walking beside him but looked in deep thought. They reached the Hospital wing after a few minutes of silent walking. The light in Madam Pomfrey's office was still on, she was not sleeping yet. Osborn softly knocked and entered leaving Harry to wait behind the closed door. She reappeared a few minutes later followed by Madame Pomfrey.

"Had trouble sleeping Potter?" She said showing him a bed to sit on. "Take off your shirt, I wanted to see how you were healing anyway."

Harry reluctantly took off his shirt and exposed the big red scars, courtesy of Uncle Vernon. Madame Pomfrey checked each of the scars meticulously, muttering to herself. She then cast a diagnostic spell and told Harry to get dressed.

"Are they still sore Potter?" She asked. Harry shook his head. "Very well. I can't see anything wrong. They are still very red but that will fade eventually." She took a vial from her pocket and gave it to Harry. "That's dreamless sleep potion. Enough for 3 days. If you still find yourself in need of it, come and see me. Good night." She then left for her office.

Osborn sat in front of Harry. When he got up, she made no move to follow him.

"Professor?" he said but she did not raise her head.

He sat back down in front of her and called again "Professor" She made no movement but spoke quietly.

"Do you know how you survived that curse ?" The room became suddenly very cold. Harry's throat tightened.

"Dumbledore said it was because of my mother." He said hoarsely. "She died to protect me. That allowed me to survive and Voldemort died because his curse rebounded on me. He took the blow of his own curse. Why do you ask?" Harry asked raising his head to meet his teachers eyes.

For a small moment, Harry thought Osborn looked very sad, but her expression became unreadable in a instant.

"Come on Potter. I'll walk you back to your common room." She got up and Harry followed her. She escorted him back to the portrait hole and stopped in front of it. "I never knew what was behind that door. I was a Ravenclaw. I've always been curious of what was going on in the other common rooms. Anyway Potter. I'll give you regular detentions to work with you on our little project. Good night." She winked at him and left him to climb up to Gryffondor Tower.

He found Ron and Hermione still up and obviously waiting for him in front of the fire.

"Harry ! We were worried. You were gone a long time! What did Osborn make you do that took you that long." Harry sighed. He was tired of making excuses and couldn't find any that were even remotely believable. Ron and Hermione were both looking at him expectantly. Harry sat on the good armchair. He took a deep, settling breath and said.

"I haven't been completely honest with you. And I'm sorry." He began, Ron and Hermione were staring at him. Desperate to hear more. "Osborn wasn't really giving me lessons when we were at headquarters. Well not exactly. She was there to help me, but not with Defense."

Ron shrugged. "We got that part already mate. You were not particularly bruised after each lessons, so we figured either she was going soft on you or you were not really having Defense lessons."

Harry actually chuckled, thinking it was probably Hermione who had figured it out.

"Well, you were right. After the first few days at headquarters, Remus and Sirius went to talk to me. They wanted me to talk to someone about what happened at the Dursleys. No don't." Harry said seeing Ron wanting to interrupted him. "I still don't want to talk about it. Well anyway, Remus asked me to talk to Osborn, as my counselor I guess, or a psychologist. Well someone who could help me understand what I've been through and how I react to certain things."

"Like the way you reacted to Seamus today." Hermione provided nodding in understanding. She was eying Ron to prevent him from talking out of turn.

"Yeah like that." Harry nodded. "Anyway, tonight's detention wasn't really a detention. We talked about what had happened during class and I told her about my nightmares."

"Good for you mate. They seemed to really become worse." Ron spoke before Hermione could stop him. "See I can say something sensible Hermione !"

Harry smiled at him and Hermione gave Ron an apologetic look.

Harry went on, explaining what had happened during the meeting with Dumbledore. They were all silent for a moment.

"So You-Know-Who can see inside your mind ?" She said, breaking the silence.

"Not all the time. I guess only when I sleep or if he is really angry at something." Harry replied, stroking Crookshank who had just jumped on his lap.

"Dumbledore's right you know Harry. You can't let him do this. You can't go lurking in You-Know-Who's head." She said, her voice a little bit higher than usual. She was nervous.

"What did Dumbledore wanted to talk to Snape about ?" Ron asked suddenly.

"I have no idea" said Harry. "We left as soon as he came in."

They all fell silent once again. Ron yawed and got up. "Well, No use getting all worried about this now. Come on Harry. Let's go to bed."

They all said goodnight and Harry swallowed his potion. He was asleep almost instantly, desperate for a restful night.