CHAPTER 28

A/N: I ended up with the flu a few days ago and have been staying at home, studying with a stuffy nose. My Mom, however, is nursing me back to health with tons of TLC. The fever is gone now and I managed to write this chapter today. Day after tomorrow, April 19, is my English Linguistics exam, from 9 o'clock till 13 o'clock, Central European Summer Time (CEST). Woo-hoo! Thanks a million for all your reviews AND good wishes (the crossed toes and fingers)! The next chapter will be out towards the end of next week (I've got another written exam on April 26, but I feel more confident about that one than about the one day after tomorrow).

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It was three o'clock in the morning. Hogwarts was asleep. A dark figure, wrapped in a heavy cloak, was walking around the grounds. There was no sleep for Severus Snape as he moved about restlessly in the cold. Albus Dumbledore had not told him everything. All he knew was that the visions he had had were not dreams. Dumbledore had called them sendings. Severus himself preferred the word "projections". It seemed as if he and Harry were projecting themselves at each other at random, so to speak. At random? Severus felt that there was a pattern. He returned to the castle and down to his rooms. He flicked his wand at the hearth. Flames leapt into life, dancing fitfully like his thoughts. He fetched a piece of parchment and set down all the sendings he had received from Harry. With a start, he realised that there was a pattern, but it was not temporal. It was emotional. He seemed to receive sendings whenever Harry was deeply unhappy – and whenever he himself was equally unhappy. He was never happy, of course; or rather, he had become so used to being unhappy that it was a state of normalcy for him; but there were times when he was seized by fits of depression and anger, and he would feel trapped and violent. He recalled Harry's words:

"I know that you are protecting me. I am protecting you, too."

Harry was aware of the sendings. Aware of Severus being able to see him during such projections. Maybe even aware of Severus's bitterness and distress. Severus's eyes narrowed. He rose abruptly and thrust the door of his library open. He stalked inside and searched among his books. He located the book he needed and snatched it from the shelf. Holding Mental Magic and Bonding firmly in his hand, Severus strode into the hall and began to read, leafing hurriedly through the book. With a soft exclamation, he finally found what he was looking for:

Soul-projection is known to occur in cases where the relationship between teacher and pupil is particularly close, or if so-called soul recognition, also called soul sympathy, takes place, implying that the participants' souls feel a powerful sympathetic bond with each other or may even be on familiar terms with each other from a long-ago past. While the participants may not be aware of soul recognition when going about their usual everyday activities, repeated exercises in Legilimency and Occlumency will alert the subconscious and trigger projections in which, for example, the pupil may appear in front of the teacher at seemingly random intervals. This phenomenon, however, is connected to the emotional condition of the participants. Emotions such as rage, sorrow or joy, experienced in very high levels, can lead to projections. The participant feels that he or she cannot contain his or her emotions anymore and is subconsciously desperate to share them – with his or her "soulmate". Thus, Mental Magic has the interesting side effect that participants can "recognise" each other and strengthen their bond. As with all relationships, however, soul recognition is no guarantee for an ever-lasting and fruitful friendship between the participants. It is speculated that Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin…

Severus stopped reading. He was well acquainted with the many speculations about the two famous wizards. A few weeks ago, he would have flung the book into the fire at the notion of sharing soul sympathy with Harry James Potter, of all people. His thin lips curved into a smile heavy with irony. If James Potter and Sirius Black were alive, they would probably choose this moment to die at the mere notion of their archenemy Snivellus and Golden Boy Harry sharing anything in common – least of all soul sympathy…

But that was what had happened. His experience matched the description in the book faithfully. He wondered whether this bond stemmed from saving Harry's life more than once or whether they had always shared a special connection and were becoming aware of it only now, thanks to the improvement of their relationship and of Harry's Occlumentic skills.

Soul sympathy. So that was what Dumbledore hadn't told him. Dumbledore had known that meticulous Severus Snape would find out anyway. And they both knew that if Dumbledore had told Severus about soul sympathy in his office, then Severus would have gone into a long rant about Harry Potter's shortcomings – or what he wanted to perceive as shortcomings. Here, in the seclusion of his rooms, he had only himself to rant at. Or he could consider the book rubbish and incinerate it. Or he could digest what he had just read and think about it. He decided on digesting and thinking. He also wondered whether he should reveal the same amount of information to Harry as Dumbledore had revealed to Severus, or whether he should tell Harry all he knew. Soul recognition. Soul sympathy. With Harry James Potter. Why not reveal all? Severus thought with grim satisfaction. The youth's reaction would be interesting. He would probably search wildly for a solution, horrified at the notion of being so deeply linked with the despised Potions Master.

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"No duelling today, Potter," Severus said dismissively as Harry entered the classroom on Friday night. "We have something far more urgent to discuss."

He strode off, robes rustling briskly. Harry followed him, intrigued. Severus led him to his office and gestured at the chair. Harry sat down.

Severus stared into the green eyes for a long moment before speaking:

"Where were you on Monday night at about two-thirty a.m.?"

Something sparked in Harry's eyes.

"In my bed in Gryffindor Tower…but…"

"But?" Severus prompted impatiently.

"You saw me, didn't you? Just like I saw you. In the atrium."

Their gazes locked.

"Yes, I saw you, Potter. And you have disrupted my train of thought on other occasions as well."

"So you can see me, too. It goes both ways. Are they visions?"

"It seems that the projections are due to an unusual magical bond we share. Read this page."

Severus placed Mental Magic and Bonding on Harry's desk. Harry read it quietly and looked up after a short while. Severus waited for the disgust to spread over Harry's face, but the youth smiled instead.

"Ah, that explains it, then."

"I can assure you that it is not some hitherto undetected damage inflicted on your sleeping pattern or cerebral processes after your addiction to Sleeping Potion, Potter. After discussing this frankly annoying phenomenon with the Headmaster, I was able to draw a conclusion from one of my books," Severus added, tapping Mental Magic and Bonding briskly with his forefinger.

"So…you and I share a bond of soul sympathy," Harry summarised pensively.

"It would seem so," Severus remarked impassively.

"This bond, has it always existed or did it develop afterwards?"

"It would seem that both assumptions are valid."

"Are many bonds of soul sympathy possible at the same time, and is it only through mental magic that they become noticeable?" Harry asked interestedly.

"Yes, many bonds are possible, but only one bond, the magically strongest one, can be rendered visible by the side effects of mental magic. No, mental magic is not the only way to make them discernible in the shape of projections. There are other ways, and some of them involve the Dark Arts – something that I cannot recommend, as you can imagine. Well, Potter, you must be horror-stricken after such revelations. I suggest that you return to your dormitory and recover," Severus said, his voice cold.

"Does it disgust you so to discover the existence of such a link between us?" Harry asked quietly. Severus fixated him with a stare only few could resist. Harry gazed back steadily.

"Has it ever occurred to you to consider our, ah, inspiring past history, Potter?"

"Has it ever occurred to you to consider the present, Professor?"

Severus opened his mouth to snarl out a crushing answer, but Harry was quicker.

"I shall not deny this link we share. You can, but I won't. I think we've wasted enough time on denial during the past years." Harry's voice remained calm, but his green eyes flashed behind his spectacles. Severus sensed the passion and fire which burnt within the young man.

"Denial of what exactly, Potter?" he hissed.

"Of the fact that you and I share things in common. Including soul sympathy, as you yourself just told me."

About two minutes passed in complete silence while the two wizards remained locked in a stare.

At last, Severus broke the silence.

"What did you mean when you said that you are protecting me?" he asked, referring to one of Harry's "appearances". "The only protection I have is the one the Headmaster and this castle give me. I have never needed anyone else's protection – least of all yours, Potter. You, protect me? You, who are protected by so many? Are you mocking me?"

"Not protection against Voldemort. Protection against…yourself," Harry said simply.

"What nonsense are you talking?" Severus snarled, crossing his arms on his chest.

"Whenever you cross your arms, it means that you are on the defensive, sir," Harry observed. "I have seen into your mind during our lessons. I have caught only glimpses, but I know that you were raised to hate yourself."

"What are you, Potter? Some kind of ridiculous would-be psychologist?"

"Please listen to me, sir. The fact you and I had visions of each other means that we subconsciously called to each other when we were in profound emotional distress. Hermione says that we share another bond via my scar and your mark. And you have saved my life, sir, and thus established yet another bond."

"Ah. You finally acknowledge the debt you owe me."

"Yes. I do. And do you acknowledge our new bond, sir?"

There was a long pause. Severus studied the youth, his eyes travelling over the determined face and slight figure.

"I do," he said at last.

"Then…can we start anew?" Harry asked, extending his hand. Severus looked at him as if he had sprouted ten heads; then he jerked his head in an abrupt nod and took Harry's hand in his. Harry pressed Severus's fingers firmly and looked directly into the black eyes. Severus returned the pressure and said austerely:

"You owe me two mugs, Potter."

Harry looked puzzled.

"Two mugs?"

"Two of your unannounced appearances via projection cost me a mug each time."

"I suppose I…er…distracted you?"

"They fell victims to the laws of gravity thanks to the disturbance you created. Their ancient age defied the powers of a Repairing Charm."

"Well, I'll replace the mugs, if you wish, sir."

Severus tightened his grip on Harry's hand.

"I want you to become an outstanding Occlumens and duellist. If you can attain that goal, Potter, then I think I will be able to forget the tragic fate of my mugs."

"I will do my best," Harry said gravely, wondering if the dour Potions Master had actually displayed a sense of humour by talking about his broken mugs.

"See that you do, Potter." Severus released his hand. Harry looked at the worn copy of Mental Magic and Bonding.

"Thank you for telling me about soul sympathy, sir."

"It was not a favour; it was a necessity. Good night, Potter."

"Good night, sir."

Severus watched Harry leave, his footsteps silent and his movements graceful as he walked towards the door and opened it. Severus traced his mouth with his finger as the door closed. His life suddenly did not seem so bleak anymore. A genuine smile touched his lips for a moment before he turned to the pile of essays demanding his attention.

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