A/N: One of my New Year's Resolutions is to update my story more frequently, so here's my first attempt at keeping it! I hope you enjoy this chapter.

On an unrelated note, I've created a forum to use as a discussion board for my stories and characters. If you have any questions or just want to toy with an idea, feel free to post it there. I'll check it at least once a day, so I'll answer your questions or give any input that I can.

Thanks again for reading and reviewing! You're the best!

I don't own Harry Potter or Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Some dialogue is taken from pages 480 – 81 of the American Hardback edition. All credit is given to JK Rowling and her publishers.

Christmas Horror

Sirius was certain that the night he spent with Harry and the Weasleys waiting for news of Arthur's condition was one of the longest of his life. Even his first horrible nights in Azkaban couldn't compare with watching the terrified grief dance across the faces of the four Weasleys. And Harry . . . Sirius could understand the fear and the shock in his eyes, but he was sure that he could see guilt there, too, which made no sense at all. What could Harry possibly have to feel guilty about in this situation? It was his dream that had alerted them all to Arthur's condition, his dream that had helped them to find him before it was too late. He knew that he needed to have a talk with his godson, but he also knew that this wasn't the time. They needed to stay where they were, to support the others.

When Molly finally came to tell them that Arthur was recovering, the entire atmosphere of the house changed. It was as though the horrible shadow that hung over them was banished, giving way to tentative rays of sun. Watching the children run to hug their mother, Sirius realized anew how much strength they all from her. They were all still worried, of course, but the he could tell that they were reassured as much by Molly's presence as they were by her words. Even Sirius felt inexplicably light and happy as he went to make breakfast, smiling as he watched Molly hugging Harry, thanking him for saving her husband's life. Sirius hoped that her words would assuage whatever guilt he was feeling. He turned away from the celebrating family to put a frying pan on the stove.

His work was interrupted a moment later by a touch on his arm. He looked around to see Molly standing next to him.

"Sirius, I want to thank you," she said. "You were really there for us when we needed help, and you did so much for the children last night – I know it would have killed them to stay at Hogwarts knowing that their dad was in London. Just being closer to him meant so much to them, and I'm so grateful to you for taking them in for me."

"It was my pleasure," Sirius replied, smiling. "They're great kids, Molly, and I'm so glad that there was a way that I could help. If you'd like, I'd love to have all of you stay with me until Arthur is released. I'm sure you'll want to visit him quite often, and we're closer to St. Mungo's here than you would be at home – I know that will make it easier with Ron and Ginny not yet able to Apparate . . ."

"Oh, Sirius, I'm so grateful. . . . They think he'll be there a little while and it would be wonderful to be nearer . . . Of course, that might mean we're here for Christmas. . . ."

"The more the merrier!" Sirius said at once, thrilled at the prospect of having all of them with him for the holidays.

Molly beamed at him, and opened a drawer to take out an apron so that she could help with breakfast.

Sirius smiled back at her and turned to the stove. He had just picked up an egg to crack when he was interrupted again, this time by Harry's low whisper.

"Sirius, can I have a quick word? Now?"

Surprised by the desperation in his godson's voice, Sirius nodded and followed Harry into the pantry. He looked down at him, wishing that he had his wand with him to light the small room. He wanted to see more than the reflection of the light from the kitchen in Harry's eyes.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I wasn't really honest when I told you about my dream," Harry said at once.

"What do you mean?" Sirius frowned. "You said that a snake attacked Arthur in the Ministry. You knew where he was. You told Dumbledore, Arthur was found, and now everything's going to be all right. How could you have been dishonest?"

The question seemed to open the door to all that Harry had been holding inside all night. His words tumbled out so quickly that Sirius was barely able to keep up with what he was saying, let alone interrupt to ask any questions.

"Sirius, I told you that I saw a snake attack Mr. Weasley. Well, that's not exactly right. I was the snake that attacked Mr. Weasley. I didn't just see the attack from above or something. I was right there. I could feel myself slithering across the floor. I could taste the air with my tongue. I saw Mr. Weasley there and I wanted to attack him. Then I did do it, and I felt my fangs going into him, I felt his bones breaking under my jaws, I felt his blood running all over me . . . I don't understand what happened, but it wasn't right. I couldn't stop myself, I couldn't control anything . . . I think that I'm the one who did this, but I don't know how I could have! And I can't tell them, Sirius, I can't. They'll hate me for it." He finished with an expulsion of the small amount of air that was left in his lungs and the most miserable expression Sirius had ever seen on the face of a teenager.

Sirius closed his eyes for a moment. He had never wanted to talk to Remus so much in his life. This was exactly what Remus had been talking about, exactly what he had been afraid would happen . . .

"Did you tell Dumbledore this?" Sirius asked.

"Yes," Harry replied with a bit of impatience in his voice. "But he didn't tell me what it meant. Well, he doesn't tell me anything anymore. . . ."

"I'm sure he would have told you if it was anything to worry about," Sirius said in what he hoped was a reassuring tone.

"But that's not all," Harry whispered. "Sirius, I . . . I think I'm going mad. . . . Back in Dumbledore's office, just before we took the Portkey . . . for a couple of seconds there I thought I was a snake, I felt like one – my scar really hurt when I was looking at Dumbledore – Sirius, I wanted to attack him –"

Sirius tried his best to keep his expression neutral, hoping against hope that Harry couldn't see him clearly. In that moment, he had never been more afraid for his godson, not even when he had watched Hagrid take him to Petunia's house as a baby. He felt utterly powerless to help him . . . but there had to be some way to comfort him . . .

"It must have been the aftermath of the vision, that's all. You were still thinking of the dream or whatever it was and –"

"It wasn't that," Harry interrupted. "It was like something rose up inside me, like there's a snake inside me –"

Near panic seized Sirius. He needed to talk to Remus immediately, and then they needed to find a way to talk to Dumbledore. This had gone too far – farther than either of them had ever thought that it would. Could it be possible – was Harry being possessed? Sirius banished the thought as quickly as it came. He couldn't think it – he wouldn't let himself go down that road, even in his thoughts.

"You need to sleep," he told Harry. "You're going to have breakfast and then go upstairs to bed, and then you can go and see Arthur after lunch with the others. You're in shock, Harry; you're blaming yourself for something you only witnessed, and it's lucky you did witness it or Arthur might have died. Just stop worrying . . ."

He brought his hand down on Harry's shoulder, hoping to offer him some additional encouragement, then walked out of the pantry. He returned to the kitchen, where the Weasleys, despite their lack of sleep, were talking animatedly. He barely heard them as he helped Molly with breakfast. His thoughts were consumed with his conversation with Harry.

"Dumbledore is sending Tonks and Mad-Eye over to take the children and I back to the hospital this afternoon," Molly informed Sirius. "He wants them to go with as much protection as possible . . . considering . . ." Her eyes drifted to Harry, who had emerged from the pantry looking every bit as pale as he had when he walked in.

"How much do you know?" Sirius asked slowly.

"Enough," Molly sighed. "We'll talk to Tonks and Moody when they get here."

"Right," Sirius agreed.

It wasn't going to be the same as discussing it with Remus, but it was a start. He'd have to send an owl to his friend at the first opportunity. He knew that Remus would want to know about this – and that he would analyze every detail, as Olivia would put it, down to nothing. Right now, Sirius needed that analytical side of Remus. He needed Remus to find a way to prove that his greatest fears were unfounded.

Tonks and Moody arrived after breakfast, while Harry and the Weasleys were sleeping. Molly was still awake. Despite Sirius's suggestion that she sleep, she was determined to stay up to talk to Tonks and Moody.

"How's Arthur?" Tonks asked as soon as she entered the kitchen, where Sirius and Molly were sitting drinking coffee.

"He'll be all right," Molly replied. "It was touch and go for awhile, but the Healers are quite optimistic at this point. They still need to keep him there for awhile, but, barring any complications, he should be fine."

"Good," Tonks said, clearly relieved. "I can't believe something like this happened. This is a clear sign that he's making his way into the Ministry. Part of me just wants to run into Fudge's office and tell him exactly what happened."

"That really doesn't seem like the best course of action," Sirius said.

Tonks rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Yes, Sirius, I'm aware of that."

"Just making sure," he said with a teasing smile.

"Potter saw this whole attack, did he?" Moody asked in an effort to get the conversation back on track.

"He had a dream about it," Molly said.

"A dream?" Tonks frowned. "You mean like a prophecy?"

"No," Sirius interjected, "he dreamed it while it was happening."

"But how is that possible?"

"I don't know," Sirius said, running his hands over his face. "But, I have to admit, it scares me a bit. Harry told me that he didn't just witness what happened – he felt it."

"What do you mean, he felt it?" Moody asked.

"He told me that he was the snake that attacked Arthur."

Molly looked horrified. "He couldn't have been. It's not possible. He was in his bed the entire time!"

"That's the strange part," Sirius said. "I don't understand how he could have been the snake. It's like you said, he was in bed at Hogwarts while it happened. How could he have been there? Yet, he told me in no uncertain terms that he felt everything that happened." He shook his head. "I don't understand it, and I don't like it. Nothing about this makes sense."

"Has anyone talked to Dumbledore about this?" Moody asked.

"Only briefly," Molly said. "And, I must admit, I was far more concerned about Arthur's condition than about how it happened." She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Dumbledore was worried about Harry, though – very worried."

"What did he say?" Tonks asked.

Molly shook her head. "Nothing much."

"Someone should talk to Dumbledore about this. We need him to give up some information," Tonks said. "I'm sure he'll have more insight than we can come up with on our own."

"I'll talk to him," Sirius said quickly. "I'll try to contact him while you're at the hospital with Arthur this afternoon."

"You'll let us know what you learn, won't you?" Molly asked anxiously.

"Of course," Sirius replied.

She shook her head. "Poor Harry. I can't even imagine what he must be feeling right now."

"An awful lot of guilt," Sirius said. "He honestly seems think that he's to blame for this. I tried to tell him that it was a good thing that he witnessed the attack – if he hadn't, who knows when Arthur would have been found? But he's still so stuck on the snake aspect that he can't see the good in the situation."

"Well, we'll do our best to make sure that he can see that we're grateful to him," Molly said. "I don't blame him in the slightest, and I know that no one else in my family will, either."

"No one should blame him," Moody said. "Even if he is being possessed, there's nothing he can do to help it."

"Possessed?" Tonks asked. "Don't you think you're going a bit far, Moody?"

"No," Moody said bluntly. "It's a possibility, Tonks, and at this point, we need to consider every possibility."

"I know, I know," she said. "Constant vigilance."

"Exactly."

Although his initial promise had been to talk to Dumbledore, Sirius first wanted to talk to Remus. He sent his Patronus with a message asking Remus to come back as soon as possible. Within moments, his friend Apparated into the library, where Sirius was searching through his parents' books trying to find information about possession.

"What's wrong?" Remus asked immediately.

"Quite a bit," Sirius said grimly. "Take a seat."

Remus sat down on the couch and looked at him expectantly.

"Arthur was attacked at the Ministry last night," Sirius said.

"Attacked?" Remus gasped. "By Death Eaters?"

Sirius shook his head. "By Voldemort's snake."

"What?" Remus exclaimed. "What was his snake doing there?"

"We can only guess," Sirius shrugged.

"How's Arthur?"

"He's going to be fine."

"Good," Remus said, obviously relieved. "How is Molly?"

"She's doing far better than I would have expected of anyone in her place. She and the kids are staying here until he's released – Harry, too."

"Good," Remus said again.

"There's more, Moony."

"Okay, let's hear it."

Sirius drew a deep breath. "We found out about the attack because Harry had a dream about it."

Remus jumped out of his seat. "He's still having these dreams because of his connection with Voldemort?"

"Yes, but Remus, this time it was different."

"How so?" Remus asked, pacing around the fireplace.

"This time – this time, Harry felt like the was the snake. He told me he could feel himself slithering around, that he could feel his fangs sinking into Arthur when he bit him."

Remus looked horrified. "Does Dumbledore know?"

"Harry told him, but he wouldn't tell Harry what it meant."

"Have you talked to him?"

"I wanted to talk to you first."

Remus nodded. "We need to talk to him, Padfoot. This has gone on long enough. Harry can't keep living like this, with Voldemort invading his thoughts at every turn. He's getting far too close, far too deep into Voldemort's mind. And what if it's something even more than that?" He clasped his hands together and sat back down. "We need to talk to Dumbledore. As soon as possible."

"This is not exactly the conversation I was hoping you and I would have."

"What were you hoping for?" Remus asked distractedly.

"I was hoping you'd tell me this wasn't as horrible as I was making it out to be."

Remus sighed and sat down again. "I wish I could tell you that. But the truth is that it is pretty terrifying." He drew a deep breath. "Okay, let's go over the whole thing again. What was the dream about?"

Sirius launched into the description that Harry had given, trying to retain as much detail as possible. Remus nodded silently as he spoke.

"Okay," he said when Sirius stopped talking, "let's tear it apart."

Sirius grinned. "That's what I was hoping to hear you say."

Dumbledore, knowing that Sirius and Remus would be as worried as he was about Harry, arrived at number 12, Grimmauld Place that afternoon while the others were still out. He found Sirius and Remus in the library, where they were discussing every detail of Harry's dream, trying to make some sense of what had happened.

"Good afternoon," he said as he entered the room. "I assume you are discussing Harry's dream to the point of no longer remembering all the involved parties?"

"That pretty much sums it up," Sirius said, exchanging a grin with Remus. "We're worried about him, sir. We're trying to find a way to help."

Dumbledore nodded. "I completely understand. It is a situation that has created more questions that we would like to answer – perhaps more than we can answer."

"But you must have some answers?" Remus asked.

"Some," Dumbledore said. "I can only hope that they are correct. Unfortunately, this connection that Harry shares with Voldemort is unique. There is no real precedent for us to follow. The way in which we proceed has not been laid out for us, and may be fraught with missteps. I can only hope that our mistakes are not so horrible as to be irreparable."

"How do you propose that we begin?"

"By considering what is happening between Harry and Voldemort."

"It seems like a very advanced Legilimency," Remus said.

"But it doesn't make sense," Sirius frowned. "Harry and Voldemort are never near one another. How can he perform Legilimency without eye contact?"

"This is one of the ways in which the case is unique," Dumbledore said. "I believe that you have found the correct theory. It does seem likely that Harry is entering Voldemort's thoughts."

"But you have to be trained to perform Legilimency," Sirius protested. "I've studied it, and I know that I could never do it – especially when dealing with someone like Voldemort, who is known to be a master of the art. How could Harry do this without even trying?"

"Again, this is a very different situation," Dumbledore said. "I am certain that Harry is completely unaware of what he is doing. The connection allows him access that no one else could even dream of having, but that he has without even trying. He is receiving messages that have little meaning to him, but immense meaning to others." He paused. "I have suspected that this was happening for some time now."

"How long has he been doing this?" Sirius asked.

"I first suspected it when you wrote me of his dream about the murder of Frank Bryce."

"But that was over a year ago!"

"Yes. I haven't said anything to Harry for fear of what it will do to him."

"But you want to tell him now?" Sirius asked.

Dumbledore looked thoughtful for a moment. "Harry has gone further into Voldemort's mind than I have ever known a person to go. He has gone beyond merely seeing what Voldemort sees to actually feeling what he feels. He is able to witness his actions as they are happening, to share his obsessions because he sees them as often as Voldemort does."

Sirius nodded. "He's told me of feeling happy or angry for no reason."

Dumbledore nodded. "He is experiencing Voldemort's emotions."

"Does Voldemort know of this?" Remus asked.

"If it were merely confined to sharing his emotions, I doubt that he would realize it," Dumbledore said. "But Harry has gone beyond that. He is able to actually share Voldemort's thoughts. Last night, he felt that he was one with Voldemort."

Sirius shivered. "That's a rather disconcerting thought."

"Indeed," Dumbledore said softly. "And, I fear, last night's experience could not have gone unnoticed by Voldemort. He will, undoubtedly, now know that Harry is able to enter his mind – and he may, in turn, try to enter Harry's."

"He needs to learn to defend himself," Remus said. "He needs to learn Occlumency. Will you teach him, sir?"

Dumbledore smiled sadly. "I would love nothing more. However, I don't think it wise. With Harry sharing so many of Voldemort's thoughts and feelings, and Voldemort likely to now share Harry's, I cannot risk Voldemort discovering how close Harry and I are. I cannot risk him realizing that Harry could lead him to the Order. He would use Harry to attack me or to attack the Order – and while I do not fear for my own safety, I fear what he would do to Harry in the process."

"Who will teach him, then?"

Dumbledore looked thoughtful. "Perhaps Severus. He is very accomplished in the field; I am certain that he would be an exceptional teacher for Harry."

"But Harry hates him!" Sirius blurted out without thinking.

Dumbledore smiled tolerantly. "Severus will never be Harry's favorite teacher, I am sure. However, I am also certain that Harry will be able to recognize that Severus is very knowledgeable, and will view him as someone from whom he can learn a great deal."

"Will Severus agree to teach him?" Remus asked mildly.

"Is there a reason he would not?"

Remus and Sirius exchanged a look. In the moment their eyes locked, unspoken memories of all the ways that James and Snape had tormented one another, of the mutual loathing between them, surfaced.

"No," Remus said at last, "I'm sure he would agree."

"No, he won't," Sirius said as soon as Dumbledore left. "You know he doesn't want anything to do with Harry."

"I also know that he doesn't want to do anything to endanger his job," Remus replied. "He'll do what Dumbledore tells him to do."

"And do it well?"

"He'd better."

"Or what?" Sirius sighed. "He won't use Harry as a way to get back at James's memory, will he?"

"I hope not," Remus said. "Don't you think enough time has passed that he's over that? We were children, Sirius."

"Some things take more time to get over than others. I think a lifelong grudge is one of those things."

Remus smiled slightly. "Isn't that going a bit far?"

"Are you over all that he did to us in school? Or, better yet, all that he tried to do? Remus, he did his best to have you expelled!"

"He did his best to have all of us expelled," Remus replied. "But he also kept his word to Dumbledore and never told anyone what I am."

"Until you taught with him."

"Even then, it wasn't until the end of the year. I think that he has moved on from the grudges of childhood."

Sirius shook his head. "He didn't hate you the way he hated James and I, Moony. I'm not sure he'll be able to separate how he felt about James from how he feels about Harry."

Remus sighed. "Let's just hope that he's willing to try."

"Severus, may I come in?"

Snape looked up from the essays he had been grading. "Of course, Headmaster."

Dumbledore stepped into Snape's office. He crossed to sit down, looking at him across his desk. "Severus, I'd like to speak with you about adding additional lessons to your schedule."

"You're considering another Potions class?" Snape asked.

"No," Dumbledore said. "This falls under another area in which you excel: Legilimency."

"You would have the students learn to delve into one another's minds?" Snape asked in surprise.

"Not all of them," Dumbledore said. He paused, drawing his fingertips together under his chin. "Severus, you know that Harry Potter bears a scar on his forehead from his encounter with Voldemort when he was an infant."

"Yes," Snape said, obviously confused as to where this conversation was going.

"I have reason to believe that the attack and perhaps even the scar have created a connection between Harry's mind and Voldemort's."

"A connection?" Snape asked, his eyes widening. "What exactly do you mean by that?"

"Harry has told me of certain . . . dreams, visions, call them what you like – that suggest that he is privy to far more information about Voldemort's actions, emotions and thoughts than even most Death Eaters would know."

"He is practicing Legilimency?"

"Yes and no. He is able to tap into Voldemort's thoughts and feelings when his mind is at its most relaxed – such as when he is sleeping. He does not know what he is doing. In reality, he does not even know how or why he has these glimpses into Voldemort's mind."

"What do you want me to teach him, then?"

"To block them," Dumbledore said simply. "I want you to teach him Occlumency. I want to be sure that Harry cannot continue to invade Voldemort's mind. I want to be sure that he cannot invade Harry's."

"Is the Dark Lord aware of this connection?" Snape asked, his eyes widening even further.

"After what happened with Arthur Weasley and the snake, I think it foolish to even consider the possibility that he is unaware of what is happening. That is why it is imperative that Harry learn to defend himself."

"Yes, I can see that," Snape said slowly.

Dumbledore leaned forward slightly. "Do you understand what I am asking of you, Severus? I am asking you to train Harry to defend himself against a magic that he has never heard of, against a magic that is defying all its normal rules. Harry and Voldemort never hold eye contact, yet are about to see into one another's thoughts. All that we would normally presume about Legilimency is invalid in this case. With your level of expertise, however, I am certain that you can teach Harry the proper defenses."

"I can try," Snape said in the same slow voice.

"You agree, then? You are willing to work with Harry individually to learn Occlumency?"

Snape paused for a moment. As much as he hated the idea of giving Harry these lessons, there was surely some benefit to be gleaned from the experience. He wanted to delve into Harry's mind himself, to see exactly what thoughts of the Dark Lord's Harry had seen. He wanted to know how far Harry had penetrated into the Dark Lord's mind. He also wanted to learn about this mysterious, unprecedented connection between them. He knew that any information he could give the Dark Lord about it would be rewarded handsomely.

"Severus?"

"Yes," he said at last. "I will teach Harry."

Dumbledore beamed. "Thank you. If you'd like to speak with him about setting up your lessons, you can find him at headquarters."

"Thank you, sir," Snape replied. "I'll begin as soon as classes resume."

"Excellent," Dumbledore said, still beaming. "Excellent."