The corridor was long and dark, just as it had been in many previous dreams. He ran toward it, reaching for the handle, needed to get what was inside. Whatever was inside was his, he needed to get to it. He needed to get his hands on it. He needed to know what it said.

"Go in boy… only you can get it." Harry stopped and turned back, seeing Voldemort standing there, looking down at him. There was mild confusion in his expression as he looked down calmly at him. Harry found himself unable to move as he saw the Dark Lord standing before him.

"Voldemort…" Harry whispered. Voldemort smirked and looked at him, walking around him slowly.

"Very interesting… to think… all this time…" Harry was frozen, staring straight ahead to where the monster had been standing seconds before.

He was told not to occlude but… he had to keep that person safe… he had to. "This is a nightmare…" Harry mumbled.

"Yes… it is… in a way… My, my. We've never really had a conversation you and I. We always get interrupted." Voldemort said placing his slimy, pale hand on his shoulder and Harry cringed but was still unable to get away from him.

"Why are you here?" He asked.

"I am not anywhere Harry. It is you who has stumbled into my mind… and it is fascinating that I now know why." Voldemort came once more to stand in front of him and cupped his face, making him look up, his cold fingers gently swept the strands covering his scar. Harry flinched but it surprisingly didn't hurt as it did in the cemetery. Instead the throb was slow, painful and widespread. It made the very world around them pulsate. Something flickered in Voldemort's expression, as if the confusion had turned to realisation and then to glee. "My dear boy… you and I can be on the same side." He reassured him.

Harry struggled to pull away but his body would not obey. "I will never be on your side." He hissed.

"You are unable to see the flaws in the ministry? Even after they have dragged your name through the ground? All you ever did was tell the truth."

"I…" He frowned and looked away.

"And your friends don't understand do they? No one is calling them liars."

"Shut up…" Harry whispered closing his eyes, covering his ears.

"It's not fair is it?" Harry started hyperventilating. He couldn't fall for his words.

"Shut up! Get out of my head!" Harry yelled, being able to turn around, and run past him, away from the dark corridor, away from the door.

"I understand Harry. I understand what it's like to be alone." His voice followed Harry, even as Harry felt the floor disappear under his feet.

"No!" He cried out sitting up, breathing rapidly. He held his scar, groaning loudly in pain, pulling his hand back, seeing his hand stained with blood. He looked to the side, seeing Ron looking at him from his own bed. Harry put on his glasses with shaking hands.

"You ok mate?" He asked softly, though Harry could almost see the fear in his eyes. Not at him, but at what he had to say about his dream.

"…yes… I'm fi-"

"You're not bloody fine! Look at you!" Ron snapped, disturbing the other boys' sleep. Harry stood and walked away to get to the bathroom, before they saw his blood covered face. Ron followed close behind. Harry saw him in the reflection as Harry saw his scar bright red but no longer bleeding.

"It was him…" Harry whispered, staring blankly at his own green eyes.

"Mate… what did you see?" He whispered.

"That door… and him… he talked to me…" He mumbled.

"…You-know-who?" Harry simply nodded. "What did he say?"

"He said…" He looked down at his pale, shaky hands. "He said he understands me…"

"…That's crazy mate, don't listen to him… he's probably trying to scare and confuse you." Ron was right but it didn't change the fact that Voldemort now knew of his connection. To top it off Harry was not allowed to occlude. How could he protect Snape? Could he force himself to actually forget? Push it to the back of his mind? He hope so… even if he was angry at him… he didn't want anything happening to him.

He opened the faucet and used the icy water to wash the blood away. He looked at Ron's reflection when he was done. "…Ron?"

"Yeah?" The redhead said uncertain.

"…If he tries to possess me… and succeeds… promise you'll kill me." He said. Ron's eyes widened and filled with frustration.

"Don't say things like that Harry!" He whispered.

Harry turned around to look at him in the eye. "Promise me."

"You won't be possessed. And I won't promise to kill you." Ron said in a final tone. Harry looked down. "Mate… don't let him, well, get into your head…"

Harry smiled softly at the choice of words. "I'll do my best…" He said. Ron smiled back, both teens trying to make light of a very dark topic.

"Come on, let's get some sleep, or you'll be dozing off in Transfiguration again." Ron said pulling him along. Harry was only too glad to get back into bed but he was scared of going back to sleep. Nonetheless, his body took over and seconds later he was in the dream world once more.

oOoOoOo oOoOoOo oOoOoOo

Severus kept his eyes on the teenager as he taught Potions. He'd heard rumours that the boy was going behind Umbridge's back, doing something still obscure to the teachers. Still, he had to be impressed. With all the effort Umbridge was putting into catching the students he was surprised the boy had yet to get caught.

He had noticed that the boy no longer wore a bandage and the skin on the back of his hand remained unmarred. Still the brat refused to acknowledge a single one of his notes. Perhaps he should let things go for now? The other seemed to be coping fine at the moment although he would rather not wait until the teen's emotions exploded yet again and Umbridge chose to punish him.

More than Harry, something else was at the front of his mind. The Dark Lord was pleased. It was obvious from the way the mark gave a warmth usually felt when his plans had gone well. Yet the sensation of contentment seemed to not be fading, no matter how many days passed. It started a few days after he walked out on Potter.

Had he gotten his hands on the prophecy already? A chill went down his spine. It couldn't be.

oOoOoOo oOoOoOo oOoOoOo

Voldemort opened his eyes remembering the dream and felt the corners of his lips raising. Nagini slithered her head up towards him and Voldemort allowed a chuckle to flow through his lips.

"It seems my friend, that I have another pet just like you." He hissed at his pet. Snakes did not know envy so Nagini simply curled her tail around his chair.

"Where master?" Voldemort smirked and thought back to the boy.

"Hogwarts, my friend. It seems that I will have to earn… or manipulate his loyalty." He told the snake and stood, walking to the nearest window, looking at the world beyond. Who would have known… that he would accidentally make another Horcrux. The best he could have made… one that people would not want to destroy.

"Well, well, Harry… it seems I may have had the wrong approach toward you all along." He spoke to the room, Nagini hissing behind him.