Chapter eleven
"Concentrate Potter." Moaned Snape for the hundreth time looking at the boy sat across from him.
"I am concentrating." Shouted Harry his head starting to hurt with concentrating too hard. He opened his eyes to look at Snape, taking a few deep breaths before closing them again.
"No your not i can see into your mind Harry. That's another thing you are yet to accomplish." He said looking Harry in the eye and taking in his lies. He had not yet cleared his mind of his thoughts and he was running out of time, whilst he, Snape was running out of patience.
"Clear your mind, concentrate on your breathing and only then will i be able to cast the spell to make your mind go deeper into your body." He explained again annoyance written all over his face. He fixed his eyes on Harrys lids and watched the different thoughts swirl in his head.
Harry emptied his mind of any thought with great difficulty and focused on his breathing. His breathing deepened and deepened until eventually he was semi conscious. He swayed slightly on the spot as his breathing deepened and Snape snapped to attention. He lifted his wand and aimed it at Harrys head and murmered "mente et animo quasi." connecting Harrys mind with his body. His mind sunk ever lower into unconsciousness, sinking right down to his blood flow. He followed his blood as it made its way around his body eventually making it to his heart. His heart, he could not see for a mixture of red and green seemed to be having battle around it. He watched as the red tried to push the green away only just managing to keep it at bay. A tightness in his chest made him gasp his breathing coming in short fast gasps and he found himself being sucked away slowly into blackness.
Snape watched on as Harry finally manged to clear his mind abling him to cast the spell. He sat in silence his eyes trained on Harry checking for any changes. This was a very dangerous piece of magic to perform and he just hoped he was skilled enough to know when things were going bad. Harrys mouth opened in shock, and Snape couldn't help but smile a little upon seeing it. Minutes that felt like hours past and still Snape sat there a sand glass sat beside him counting down the seconds Harry had been away. If Harry happened to stay in this state for longer than an hour his soul would be lost forever and who knows what would happen to Voldmorts powers then. The last few grains remained and thinking he'd had long enough, Snape stood over Harry and pulled out his wand. "separatum mentem animumque" He said hearing Harrys intake of breath and knowing it had worked. He put his hand behind Harrys back preparing himself for when he fell backwards, gently lowering him back on the edge of the mat leaving him to regain consciousness.
His eyes flickered open, he had no idea how he became to be layed on the library floor, but he knew by the ache in his back that he had been there for a while. His eyes adjusted to the room around him as he slowly made himself sit up into a more comfortable position. Out of the corner of his eye he caught movement. Slowly feeling the strain in his stiff neck he turned to see Snape sat at his desk reading.
"How long have i been out?" He asked rubbing his head as a huge headache had just began to pound his head. Snape turned to look at him with interest, placing his book down on the desk and pulling back his long sleeve to glance at his watch.
"You've been unconscious for about 5 hours." He replied shaking his sleeve back down. He pushed his book aside and pulled forwards a tray. "Tea Harry?" He asked setting two cups out and pouring some tea into each. "Come take a seat." He said pulling his cup forwards and taking a sip.
Harry rose unsteadily from his postion from the floor and staggered his way across the room to Snapes desk. He slowly sat down feeling all his muscles tense as his weight now rested on the chair. "What was that? I don't even remember how i got to be laying on the floor one second i was clearing my mind then i must of fallen asleep." He said looking at Snape for the answer.
"You didn't fall asleep Harry, you were able to clear your mind long enough for me to cast the spell. Your mind and body were connected for a while, so that will explain why you saw what you did." He explained placing his tea back down onto his desk. "Take some chocolate Harry it will help you gain back some energy." He said taking a piece himself and nibbling on the edge.
Harry took a piece and just stared at it trying to piece toghether what he saw, with what Snape had already told him. "So Harry what did you see?" Asked Snape not able to contain the question any longer, he hadn't known any wizard to try this spell so now was his chance to find out what it was like. Harry looked up and became absorbed into the black eyes staring back at him as he recounted what had happened.
"It was so weird, i was following my blood circulating around my body, only when i reached my heart i couldn't see it." He explained his eyebrows lowered into a V as he struggled with what he saw. "It's getting stronger..." He lifted his eyes up to look at Snape "...I saw my powers struggling, only just keeping his powers away from my heart. If his forced their way through, is that the end?" He asked slightly panicked by how much time he had left. Snape stared at him intently trying to piece together his thoughts.
"I'm afraid we have shorter a time than i first thought." He replied, bringing his hands together in front of his face with his elbows resting on the table. "It's no problem we will just have to work harder and longer. Now do you think you can do that again, this time try to be one with your power and get the feel of Voldemorts forcing against yours." He asked then stood and made his way back over to the mats. Harry nodded, he couldn't let Voldemorts powers overtake him, he won't let them. He rose from his seat and followed Snape back over to the mats and settled down on one crossing his legs. He took a deep breath concetrating with all his might on his breathing willing himself to go back into that state of nothingness again.
Hours past and still no result, the longer they went on the more frustrated he became making it harder for him to clear his mind. Snape however sat patiently, not wanting to make him more frustrated than he already was. He knew how Harry felt he could see it in his mind, wishing he could do this, hoping to get control over Voldemort one last time, waiting for Snape to just tell him a simpler way, but he couldn't help him in his journey any more than he already had.
"Lets try things differently Harry. Lay back on the floor, with your arms beside you." He said watching as Harry did as he told him with no questions asked. "Now loosen all your muscles allowing them all to relax... now close your eyes." He said moving to sit by his side. "Now breath in... and out, in... and out. Concentrate on my voice allow it to fill your mind, clearing your mind of everything else." He murmered using his most gentle voice, which he never used. Harry, his mind cleared once more of all thoughts began to slowly drift in and out of consciousness, Snape not wanting to waste any time cast the spell and Harry found himself once more moving along his veins.
He made his way back to his heart this time being face to face with it. He turned so he could feel it pumping his blood on his back. His eyes blinded by a green light, stung as the unknown reached them. He closed them and felt an uncomfortable weight pushing against him making it hard for him to breath. Everytime he breathed out the weight loosened, but when he breathed in he gasped as no air came. He began to struggle, as he began to suffocate urging himself to leave and go back to the real world but nothing happened.
Snape found himself once again watching Harry, the timer in hand. His eyes drooped as tiredness caught ahold of him, slowly dragging him down. He fought it keeping his eyes on Harry as he stayed unconscious.
Bangs coming from infront of him brought him back to the room after having fallen asleep, after no longer being able to fight it. Harry's body began to struggle against the unknown as Snape watched on, Harry's breathing coming in short gasps. Snape then knew Harry was suffocating. He jumped to his feet, muttered the counter charm and immeditaly relaxed as Harrys eyes burst open as he sucked in a large amount of air.
"Harry, you okay?" He asked looking down at him in concern, seeing his green eyes looking back at him. Wow his eyes are exactly like Lilies they were right, he thought shaking his head bringing himself back to the problem at hand. Harry nodded still trying to get his breath back. "I think that will do for today Harry, you must be exausted." He said standing back up to walk back to his desk to retrieve some chocolate for Harry to eat before bed. Then he left the room the tea tray in hand.
Harry lay still on his back, biting off a bit of chocolate as he thought of how he could beat this, but no answers came to mind. Snape returned after having washed the cups and saucers, looking dead on his feet. "Right off to bed then Harry." He said standing beside the door way as he watched Harry turn, stand and walk towards him. "On second thoughts maybe i should appariate us up there your not looking to good, i think we have pushed your body to the limit today." He said taking hold of Harrys arm just above the elbow. "Ready?" He asked and after recieving a small nod from Harry, turned on the spot and landed beside Harry's bed. "There we go Harry your night clothes are at the end of your bed. I'll see you in the morning for more mind and body training. Goodnight." He said and left the room leaving Harry standing there alone.
Sorry this ones a bit late, i've been really busy lately. Hope you enjoyed. Please review :D