Chapter Thirty Eight

Draco, Daphne and Pansy were sitting around their favourite table by the fire, working on their Potions homework.

"Well? How did it go?" Daphne asked, once Harry had sat down.

"Horrible." Harry snapped, "If you must know!"

"Harry!" Pansy chided, "How ever bad it went it's not our fault."

Harry took a deep breath to calm himself and nodded, "Yeah. You're right. Sorry."

The common room was fairly empty at least so Harry could relax a little.

"Why don't you tell us what went wrong?" Draco suggested.

Harry shrugged, "It just seems impossible. I didn't manage to push McGonagall out, not once. She just kept rooting through my head. I did remember where I saw that door though. The one I keep dreaming about."

"Well that's good!" Pansy said, "It means that maybe you are just dreaming, a metaphor or something."

"I don't think so." Harry said, shaking his head, "It's in the ministry, in the Department of Mysteries. I walked passed it on the way to my trail, during the summer."

Draco, Daphne and Pansy shifted uncomfortably.

"The Department of Mysteries is top secret stuff. Very dangerous from what I've been told." Draco said quietly, "What do you think You-Know-Who is after in there?"

"A weapon." Harry said firmly, "I don't know what but it's got to be bad if the Order is so sure they need to protect it. Maybe a mass killing spell or something? It can't all be about the Prophecy, I'm starting to think that that was just a red herring anyway."

"We don't need to worry about that though." Pansy said, wrapping her arms around her, "It is protected, whatever 'it' is and that's the main thing. Now we have to make sure that You-Know-Who isn't getting into your head and picking out anything that could help him get passed the guards."

Harry flopped back into the seat, he felt like crying. So that's why they wouldn't tell him anything, anything in his head could easily be found out by Voldemort. He was the ultimate weak link.

"Harry?" Daphne asked softly, "Are you OK?"

"Would you be OK?" Harry cried, "Everyone would be better off if I was dead right now!"

"Harry!" Draco gasped, "Don't say that. It's not true, look I know you're struggling right now but you just need to learn to shield your mind. Plus no one has told us anything either and we don't have anyone snooping in our heads."

"Because you might tell me." Harry pointed out.

"Dumbledore is just keeping everything very close to his chest right now." Pansy sighed, "I'm sure he'll tell us more as soon as he can."

Harry wasn't so sure, he felt nothing but frustration at Dumbledore for keeping things from him and the anger bubbling inside him wasn't helping either, although he was starting to suspect that more of it was Voldemort's rather than his.

"You need to work on shielding your mind." Draco said, "That is what you need to focus on right now."

Harry nodded, he was feeling sick and unbelievably tired, "I'm going to do this later. I need to get some sleep." he told them, not even wanting to open his quill case.

He didn't wait for a response but went quickly up to his dorm and got changed before pulling the covers tightly around his neck.

It was all well and good for them to say he had to work on shutting Voldemort out but Occlumency seemed impossible, all he was doing was letting McGonagall rummage around his brain, he hadn't come close to stopping her.

They also didn't know what it was like to be in that dream, wanting to get to that door so much, he would do anything just to see what was on the other side.

He rolled over, trying to get more comfortable when a pain struck him, making his scream. It was like his scar was on fire, splitting his head open. He was surrounded by maniacal laughter, he was happier than he had been in years, something wonderful had happened.

Harry felt someone gripping at his shoulders and a cry of pain broke through the laughter but it continued, echoing away.

He looked round and saw Corvus, his fingers digging into Harry's shoulders. Harry noticed the laughter was coming from him, the happiness quickly draining away. He stopped himself, breathing deeply. His scar was still throbbing, sending burning shoots of pain through his head.

Corvus was looking down worriedly at Harry.

"You can let go now." Harry said quietly.

Corvus looked down at his hands and quickly pulled away, "I'm sorry. I… I heard you screaming and…"

Harry forced a smile, despite the pain, "You did the right thing. Thank you."

Corvus nodded, he was as white as a sheet and in his pyjamas, he must have been on his way to bed, or just getting a drink or hiding from his siblings or something.

"Can… can I do anything to help?" Corvus asked.

Harry took several more deep breaths, "Yes. Can you go and get Draco? And Daphne and Pansy? They're in the common room I think."

Corvus nodded and left the room. He returned a few minutes later followed by Harry's friends, all looking very worried.

"Thanks." Harry said, forcing another smile as Corvus slipped out the dorm room.

"Harry?" Pansy said, pulling the curtain on his bed further back, "What happened? Corvus said you were hurt?"

Harry shook his head, causing another wave of pain from his scar, "No. I mean my head doesn't feel great right now that's for sure but I wasn't hurt exactly."

"You look awful. What happened?" Daphne asked.

Harry took a deep breath, "I was just coming to go to sleep and… he's happy, Voldemort is really really happy about… something."

"Do you know what?" Draco asked, in barely more than a whisper.

Harry shook his head, "No. I have no idea. But he's not been this happy in… in I don't know how long. He's… something's happened."

"But you don't know what?" Draco confirmed.

Harry nodded, the happiness still inside him made him feel sick, "I think it was the Occlumency lessons. I think they some how opened my mind. Why did Dumbledore ask McGonagall? Why couldn't Dad teach me?"

"I'll try and get a message to Professor Snape." Daphne said, "I think out of everyone I will be the least likely to be suspected. You should just try and get some rest, Harry. I'm sure if anything really bad has happened we'll find out soon enough.

Harry nodded. He didn't think he would be able to sleep, but he quickly fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

The next morning the question of what had happened was answered, printed boldly on the front cover of the Daily Prophet. Harry read over Daphne's shoulder about the mass break out from Azkaban and felt his heart drop.

"There's eight more with him now." Harry said, "Even worse odds."

"They'll have to lie low." Draco pointed out, "Every Auror is going to be looking out for them now."

Harry wasn't much comforted, "Does it say how they escaped?"

Daphne quickly scanned over the article, "It says that the warden on duty, Mr Davis, has been remanded into custody to await further questioning."

"Davis? As in Tracy's father?" Draco asked.

"Step father I think." Pansy whispered, "She took his name when she was about three. What? My parents gossip."

"I saw him, in Mum's pensive a couple of years back." Harry said, "He didn't seem the type to let a load of Death Eaters escape."

"Well, it wasn't him, was it?" Pansy said, "He's just been set up, it was You-know-who who got them out for sure."

"And this will likely just push Davis towards him. He's been fired and arrested, it would make sense for him to go to You-know-who, who would at least give him his freedom." Daphne sighed, sitting back in her chair, "This is just what we needed."

"There's more." Daphne said, "Someone was killed in St Mungo's. They had been given a potted plant and as they were getting a little better, the Healer told them to care for it only the plant was… oh, it was a Devil's Snare. It attacked him instantly. His name was… Bode, he worked in the Ministry. Poor man was getting better after a work accident."

"There is no way someone gave him a Devil's Snare by mistake is there?" Harry asked, "I mean, it would of attacked the person who put it in the pot as well."

Daphne nodded, "Yes. Almost certainly."

Pansy leaned forward, so it was less easy for them to be overheard, "Do you think he worked in the Department of Mysteries? I mean, that would make sense wouldn't it?"

Harry nodded, it would make a lot of sense, "He might have been attacked guarding the weapon, or by the weapon by accident. There are a lot of people in the Order after all."

Draco, Daphne and Pansy all nodded.

"Potter, a word." Professor Snape said, striding over, "Your last potion was truly abysmal."

Harry nodded and followed him without a word until they were safely out of the Hall and stowed away in a nearby classroom.

"Daphne managed to get word to me last night." Severus said, hugging Harry tightly, "Are you all right? What happened?"

Harry explained again what had happened, "I'm just glad that Corvus found me."

Severus nodded, "Yes, as am I."

"Did you see the paper?" Harry said quietly, "That's what he was happy about, his army is getting stronger. Those eight, they went to prison for him, they are the most fanatical and now they're back."

Severus looked down at him, "Harry… one of those who escaped, he-"

"Was Pettigrew." Harry sighed, "Yeah. I guessed."

"You don't need to worry. You're safe here." Severus tried to reassure him.

Harry could of laughed, "I'm not safe anywhere. He's in my head, Dad."

"You will learn Occlumency, I know you will. You are strong." Severus said, pulling him closer to him, "I know it is difficult at first."

Harry let himself relax a little, being hugged like he was just a little child again, Severus felt warm and familiar and safe.

He had just pulled away when the door opened slightly with a 'Hem hem'. Harry gritted his teeth and lowered his head, not wanting to have to look at Professor Umbridge.

"Dolores, what can I do for you?" Severus said coolly.

"I was just wondering what you needed to talk to Mr Potter about that was so desperate you felt the need to call him away from breakfast? I assume it is a school issue? That you are maintaining professional boundaries?" Professor Umbridge said, batting her eyelashes.

"Of course. As you are aware, Mr Potter is a member of my house and it is his O.W.L year. His Potion marks are not up to scratch at all and I was giving him a few suggestions. I will of course be doing the same for other students who's marks I have concerns about." Severus informed her.

"Of course." Umbridge said, smiling sweetly, "Well I do hope your 'special attentions' will help Mr Potter. I must admit that I worry about his overall intelligence. His grades in my classes are also… poor."

Harry said nothing, still staring at the floor and gritting his teeth so he didn't land himself back in detention, carving stupid lines into his skin for Umbridge's amusement.

"Mr Potter has a lack of focus, much like his father." Severus said.

Harry knew he didn't mean it, but the words stung like he'd been slapped.

"I believe you had the pleasure of meeting his father while you were at school." Professor Umbridge said, "How difficult it must be for you to have to live in the same house as your bully's child, after how awfully they treated you."

"Yes." Severus said tightly, "Now, I have much work to do, if you have nothing more to say."

Professor Umbridge smiled even more broadly and stepped between him and the door, "Actually, there is one more thing. I have just come from seeing to Professor Hagrid on a similar issue. I am afraid that after you assessment, I have been forced, in my role of Hogwarts High Inquisitor, to place you under probation. I am very sorry, but incidents like this, where you are clearly favouring certain pupils over others, as well as the general state of your teaching methods…"

"Professor Snape told you that it wasn't just me he was helping!" Harry said quickly, forcing himself not to yell.

Umbridge turned to look at him, "Yes, yes he did but you see I would need proof of that and, unfortunately, there is only proof that he has been helping you, and it's not like you've blown up the Potions lab or anything. Seems like special treatment to me."

Harry opened his mouth to say something but Severus raised his hand slightly to stop him.

"I will endeavour to pay more attention to my students, dividing my time more equally." Severus said, his voice tight and his smile even more so.

"Well as I was trying to say, it's not just the attention issue." Umbridge said, stepping between Severus and the door again, "Your class work is also lacking, you see very little of what you write on the board matches the standard text book, which is a worrying safety issue."

Severus said nothing but nodded and swept out the room before Umbridge could say anything else. Harry stood, glaring at Umbridge, clenching his fist by his sides.

"Do you have something to say Mr Potter?" Professor Umbridge asked, taking a few steps towards him, "Because you know, you can always tell me."

Harry forced a smile, "No. I'm fine."

He pushed passed Umbridge, heading back for the Hall and his friends. Severus was on probation? How much more bad news could he manage?