Disclaimer: It is all mine! Harry, Draco, Ron, Hermione, and Hogwarts! Oh, sorry, I must've been dreaming. Nope, none of it's mine except for, well the stuff that isn't actually in the books.

Chapter 3

Harry awoke in Snape's rooms with a serious feeling of déjà vu.

Lovely.

He knew that Snape couldn't be too happy with him at the moment. Not only had Harry apparently ruined a perfectly good thievery attempt, but he had fainted again and caused the professor more trouble.

And so, instead of waiting around to get yelled at, he chose to go back to Gryffindor Tower. The walk towards there was very deserted, which meant everyone was still at Hogsmeade. He couldn't have been asleep for long.

Harry reached the Gryffindor Tower and almost jumped at another line of thought.

What happened to his picture?

Oh no. Harry reached into his back pocket, but the picture was not there. He needed that picture. He searched all around his dormitory: under the beds, through everyone's dressers, and all through the common room. Still, no picture.

Harry thought that it must still be in Snape's rooms, possibly on the floor he found himself laying on. Harry began to panic. He felt his lungs quickly expanding and compressing, and felt his skin suddenly break out into a sweat. Snape could not see that photo. Nobody could know about it, or else bad things could and would happen.

Harry knew it was important to think of a plan. He would need to sneak into Snape's private rooms and look for the picture. However, Harry was unconscious whenever Snape had said the password.

And so, Harry decided on the Gryffindor approach, no matter how much it scared him at the moment: confrontation.

Harry's Potion class passed by without any real occurrences. The class had at least attempted to brew Amortentia, with only Hermione and Draco Malfoy succeeding.

Snape had for the most part ignored him, except to take 50 points for 'more than the fact that you exist.'

Typical Snape. At least that hasn't changed.

Quite a few other things had changed, though.

Harry had been trying to meditate for Occlumency, and lately he could see a small fragile thread running throughout his mind, flowing outwards. However, it was as though the thread continued to the outside of his mind because he could never follow it to the end.

When he touched the thread, it felt like solid liquid, still running and flexible, but not enough to break. In fact, Harry had tried to break it many times, but to no avail.

It seems that it contained its water like property to slip away and through cracks. He could barely hold it long enough to even ponder of a way to break it.

The bond scared Harry because he didn't know if it was two-sided, or, for that matter, who is on the other side. Since it must have to do with mind magic, Harry assumed Snape would be on the other end. But what does it mean?

Harry suddenly felt a wave of excitement but he didn't know why. He was sure it wasn't his own feeling. But Snape seemed a bit happier today.

Could it be?

Could I be feeling Snape's emotions?

Can Snape feel mine?

If that were true, then the man was too proud to hint at it. Harry had long ago realized that it was their stubbornness that kept them from amiability, both too obstinate to back down. Or at least, that was part of it.

He didn't know what Snape could possibly be excited about, but whatever it was couldn't be beneficial to the rest of mankind.

Harry immediately disposed of the idea it could do with Voldemort, as Harry knew Snape was a spy and despised anything to do with the Dark Lord.

The feeling of excitement seemed to increase whenever Snape looked at Harry, so Harry had a strong sense of foreboding for the rest of the day.

However, Harry was starting to become excited himself, as he was going to get his picture back tonight.

BREAKBREAKBREAK

Snape was in his quarters, nursing a bottle of Butterbeer. The possibility of Firewhiskey was disregarded after he decided he would need his wits about him tonight.

He stared into the fire to take his mind off of the photo that was in his hand. Snape didn't know why he kept it on his person, but it might've been the mysterious quality of the darn thing.

It was obviously muggle, as it was not moving and not as clear as wizard photos were. The blond man in the photo was very fat, at least Snape could assume. Only his head was seen, but it was obscenely large and a possessed a triple chin.

Snape felt a trill of fear run through his heart just by looking at the man, like he could do very bad things and it was better to run away while you could. Severus had to remind himself that he was a very powerful wizard. He feared no muggle. But then, why did his heart fear?

The baby was fat also, but all babies are. It had a nice chubbiness to it, cheeks you would want to pinch. Stop, thought Snape. Where did that thought come from? I have never wanted to pinch someone's cheek.

His heart had a surge of love while looking at the child, an overwhelming need to protect and ensure its happiness. Snape only had loved a few people after getting to know them extensively. He could not love a child whom he had never met, and his mind told him that. So, why did he feel love toward this baby?

Snape felt fear run through his heart again with this child. Not fear of the child, but fear for it. He didn't know why, though. This baby looked perfectly happy and content sitting in the fat man's lap. The man was looking down at the child with adoration, perhaps.

Why am I being so irrational today? It must be the Butterbeer.

Snape looked away from the two people in the picture, and started focusing on the background. It was a kitchen, a muggle one at that. You could see a microwave, a refrigerator, and a stove.

There was something cooking on the stove, and also someone doing the cooking. The man's huge face covered the person's head and upper body, so all you could see were the scrawny legs. The person was wearing very large jeans and did not seem aware of the picture being taken behind them.

Severus didn't feel as though he could get anything else out of the picture, but still he looked. He searched for the meaning, the symbolism it could have to Potter.

However, Snape also kept in mind what happened to Potter every time he attempted to get an answer. Snape had to grudgingly admit that Potter had a very high pain tolerance, so why did those headaches affect him that much?

Snape didn't know why, at this point, he didn't go to the headmaster about Potter's potential problems. Dumbledore loved the boy and would devote all the time necessary to figuring out the mystery.

But, it was Snape that first discovered something might be wrong, and Dumbledore DID give Snape the right to snoop around Potter's mind when he said to teach him Occlumency.

Snape was also starting to get the feeling that he might actually be more equipped to handle the situation than Dumbledore. Dumbledore would start talking about the Dark Lord, but Snape was sure that the Dark Lord trusted him enough to tell him if he had a new plan with Potter. Snape didn't want Dumbledore to doubt his influence as a spy.

Snape would get to the bottom of this himself.

And he would do so, tonight.

BREAKBREAKBREAK

"Come in." Snape answered to the knock on his door. Potter entered with a determined look on his face.

Such fire today, huh Potter? Well, you won't keep that determination for long, thought Snape.

"Potter, I am sick of you fainting in my presence and, quite frankly, it has grown redundant."

"So, I suggest you actually attempt to practice Occlumency and perhaps, you could hold up longer than… what was your record? Ah, yes. 30 seconds. Disgusting." Snape sneered after his statement for added effect.

He could see Potter's face go red and he could feel anger inside himself that did not come from him. Potter would probably start yelling any minute now and have less control on his words. He would probably spill something.

"Well, SIR, maybe you should stop making me faint."

Well, that was a surprising and rather weak comeback.

"And how, Potter, am I the one making you faint? I have no control over your weakness."

"You won't leave, professor. I beg and beg, but you won't LEAVE!"

This was almost humorous.

"Well you probably weren't listening when people discuss the mannerisms of the Dark Lord." Snape said sarcastically.

"You see, he won't gallop out of your mind with only a 'pretty please'. In fact, if you faint in his presence from trying to keep your petty little secrets safe, you are as good as dead. And if that is the result, why am I bothering teaching you Occlumency? Why am I wasting MY time if you refuse to guard your whole mind and only your little hide-away?"

"I dunno why you are wasting your time, sir. I'll just leave."

"Oh, no you don't, Potter. I will not have you running away like a COWARD."

This got Harry's attention and he turned around only to be hit with a spell.

"Legilimens."

Snape proceeded to the sewer and decided in his anger that it was time to see some memories.

He focused on a screen to see Potter sneaking through a house and traveling up the stairs. He arrived at a room decorated in turtles that were no definable color in the dark. Potter went over to the crib and looked inside. It was a child, the same one in the photo.

Snape felt a surge of love, but also of guilt. He didn't know why, but he assumed Potter was about to do something that made him very guilty and ashamed. Potter took his left hand and put it on the child's forehead, while taking his right hand and pointing his index finger as if it were a wand.

That little brat was about to do underage magic in the presence of a muggle baby, thought Snape. However, before Snape could see more, he was pushed forcefully out of Potter's mind.

Lo and behold, there lying on the ground was Potter, unconscious.

Snape sighed. Their lesson wasn't supposed to be over for another hour. And he still hadn't gotten his answers.

Snape went to his personal stores and retrieved a Pepper-Up potion. He then walked back to the classroom where Potter lay on the ground just as he was before and administered the potion.

Déjà vu.

He didn't have to wait long before Potter groaned and sat up. He looked like he wished he were still unconscious. But, Snape was very impatient. And, considering he wasn't a patient man to start out, means he refused to wait for answers.

"Okay, Potter. I am tired of this. You have two options. Number 1:" Snape held up his index finger. "You tell me what I wish to know or Number 2:" His middle finger rose alongside the index one. "I tell the headmaster what little I know and he will do with it as he sees fit."

"You probably wouldn't like the second option, because it includes me explaining to dear Albus everything I've observed and giving him this photo." Snape held up the photo and saw Potter's expression turn to need. Harry was pleading with his eyes to have the picture back.

"Sir, I don't want to know how you came across my photo, but it is of no value to you and I would appreciate if you would give back what is rightly mine."

Harry mustered up the hardest look he could and kept it even while Snape spoke.

"Well, I would gladly give it back if you gave me information. That would mean that you choose the first option, yes?"

Harry didn't answer right away. It seemed as though he were trying to find a loophole in the simple words of the two options. He could apparently find none, as he developed a gloomy face and spat the word, "Yes."

WHEN THE DOG BITES, WHEN THE BEE STINGS, WHEN I'M FEELING SAD, I SIMPLY REMEMBER THE REVIEWS THAT I GET AND THEN I DON'T FEEL SO BAD!