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Chapter Six: Night Visions

As the month of May drew to a close, Harry found himself milling around Hogwarts, a smile plastered on his face. His happiness seemed boundless now that Snape was acting normal towards him again. Their relationship had definitely progressed this year, and neither one could doubt the positive affects the change was having on them.

Besides from Snape, Harry's happiness could also have been from the news that the Headmaster had told him during their last meeting. After getting a hold of Slughorn's real memory and discovering Voldemort's use of Horcruxes, Dumbledore had revealed to Harry just how close they were to the Dark Lord's defeat.

"Voldemort created seven Horcruxes, seven being a rather significant number in our world. I believe each Horcrux has some connection to Hogwarts, because it was his real home, and meant a lot to him as a young man. I believe that they are possessions of the four founders, like Hufflepuff's Cup, Salazar Slytherin's ring and locket, etc etc etc. Besides those three, one of which has already been destroyed," at this point, Dumbledore held up his blackened finger, signifying the reason it had that appearance, "there is also his diary, which you saw fit to destroy in your second year, unknowingly taking a part of Voldemort's soul with it. I believe that the fifth Horcrux is something of Gryffindor's or Ravenclaw's, because, like I said, this School still holds a place in his cold, black heart. It is also possible that the sixth Horcrux is his pet snake, Nagini, whom he seems quite attached to, and of course the final one resides inside him, the only piece of him that is still remotely human."

Just knowing that they had the formula to destroy Voldemort brought a smile to Harry's face, but having found out just how close they were was truly the icing on the cake. The only drawback was that Dumbledore had made him promise to tell no one, not a soul, including Ron and Hermione. This also meant, of course, he wasn't to breathe a word of this to Severus. This was the hardest part of the secret-keeping.

One night, Harry had returned from a lesson with him and was so happy and care-free that he neglected to clear his mind before plopping down on his bed, fully clothed, and falling straight to sleep.

He was in a dark, crowded room, sitting on a high chair. He was speaking in Parseltongue to a slithering mass curled at his feet. "What have you found tonight?" he hissed, and even though he was speaking a different language, he could tell the voice was not his own.

He was stuck in Voldemort's head again, probably now at a Death Eater meeting.

Suddenly, he felt himself stand up. "Quiet!" he screamed to the dark-robed figures.

One by one, the Death Eaters approached and kissed the hem of his- Voldemort's - robes.

"Master," they muttered, "My lord, it's a pleasure, as always," some said.

"I have called you here tonight to discuss something of great importance that is soon to take place. Due to the absence of our dear Lucius, I have seen to that his son Draco fill his shoes while he is gone. I have assigned the young man a mission, one many of you, I'm sure, would simply die for. Some of you may even have that chance." Here, the Dark Lord's cold voice paused, the slits of his red eyes boring into the wide fearful ones of his servants.

"His mission, whether or not he chooses to accept it, is to take Albus Dumbledore off our hands. And I do not mean temporarily." There was an intake of breath that swept like a wind through the circle of Death Eaters, though out of fear or excitement, Harry couldn't tell.

"My lord, is there any way we can be of assistance to the boy?" the raspy voice of one masked man sounded out into the shocked silence.

Voldemort turned towards the one who had spoken. "How can you be of assistance? Do use your common sense for once, Rookwood! Of course you will help him. You must accompany the boy to hold off the Aurors and all the rest of Dumbledore's crew. You will need to be there should he fail to follow orders. He is only sixteen, after all. Remember that." The Death Eater named Rookwood bowed his head. "Oh, and Rookwood," the Dark Lord continued, "CRUCIO!"

The masked Rookwood shrieked in agony, writhing on the ground, but Voldemort lifted the curse as fast as he had administered it.

"Any one else care to question my orders?" the question was obviously rhetoric, and everyone remained silent. "Good. Now, Severus, I believe you have something to share with us all?" he turned to the man in question, who lowered his mask and moved to stand in the center of the circle.

"Draco has told me, time and time again, that he has a plan," Severus began, "but he declined to tell me what that plan is. I have offered him help, of course, because I know what his mission is and would only be too glad to help him complete it-" he paused to acknowledge the sniggers of his fellow Death Eaters and continued- "But I do not think he knows that I know of his assignment, and therefore he assumes that I want him to tell me of it so I can do it myself and take the credit. Naturally, I have no desire to do so, because my Master did not tell me to do that.

"The problem is that without knowing it, Draco is making it harder for himself. By not telling me of his plans, he is, in fact, ruining them. Therefore, I am going to try to push him a bit more, but I expect that as it is nearing the end of his school year, he will attempt to set his plan in motion very soon. So, keep your eyes and ears opened.

"Lastly, and most important, Dumbledore himself has told me that he will be out of Hogwarts in three weeks time, for a day, perhaps two, on a mission of his own, the likes of which he did not care to fill me in on. However, when he returns, I believe Draco will spring into action. Keep that night free on your calendars." More sniggers. "That's all the information I have for now." Severus moved back to his place in the circle and the Dark Lord rose again from his seat.

"Severus, is it truly that difficult to get information out of a stupid teenager? Surely a man like you would have ways of finding out what you need to know?" He said 'a man like you' and 'ways' in such a way that made the sleeping Harry's stomach squirm.

"My lord, I-I-"

"Don't even bother, Severus. RICTOSEMPRA!" The curse was out of his mouth before Severus even registered that he had drawn is wand. But it didn't stop there. "CRUCIO!" Voldemort said again, only this time he held it for what seemed like forever. Pain coursed through Harry's body; it felt like every single inch of him was on fire. But Severus wouldn't scream. He bit his lip and curled his fists, but he kept quiet.

Harry himself woke up screaming.

The minute his eyes opened, Harry was out of bed. He grabbed his invisibility cloak and pulled on a pair of sweatpants, (he usually slept only in his boxers), and a plain white t-shirt, and hurried downstairs as fast as his tip-toes would carry him. He needed to see Severus, immediately.

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