Seamus slowly made his way down to the common room, his bag strung over his shoulder. Today was the first day he was back to classes: It had been three days since he was attacked, and he was just barely feeling better. His ribs still ached terribly, but at least he could breath better.
"Hey babe!" Harry was waiting at the bottom of the staircase, a big smile on his face, his hands behind his back.
"Hey! I was wondering where you went." Seamus stopped in front of Harry and gave him a kiss. "What are you hiding?"
"A present for you!" Harry pulled out a beautiful sunflower and handed it to Seamus. "I went for an early morning walk and picked it for you. They're your favorite, right?"
"Harry!" Seamus squealed happily, taking the flower. He gave it a sniff. "You're the sweetest boyfriend, you know that?"
"I do," Harry chuckled. "And you're not carrying anything today, so I'll take that." Harry took Seamus' backpack off and strung it on his shoulder along with his own bag.
"Harry, I'll be fine, you don't have to fuss –" Seamus started, but Harry put his finger to his lips. Seamus smiled, giving it a little kiss.
"I do have to fuss. Because you're my boyfriend and I want to take care of you and make sure you get better. Now come, let's get some food!" Harry took Seamus by the hand and left through the portrait hole, both smiling happily.
As many of the professors knew what happened, they did their best to go easy on Seamus as well. In Transfiguration, McGonagall allowed him to be the one performing the spells instead of being the target, as it involved being thrown to the ground: Grubbly-Plank allowed Seamus to be the note taker as the rest of the class tried their hand at chasing after flaming salamanders and getting them into the fire pit: Sprout had Seamus be the one in his group to hold open the mouth of the Snargleluff plant while Ron, Hermione, and Harry dived in to obtain the pods (quite the physical task).
It was overall, a very good day back. They were all heading to their last classes of the day: Arthimacy for Seamus and Hermione, and Divination for Harry and Ron. Harry was standing at the bottom of the North Tower staircase, where they all usually split. He was trying to convince Seamus to let him get escorted to his class.
"Baby, I'll be fine, I promise." Seamus said, both his hands on either side of Harry's face. "You've done a lot for me today and I truly appreciate it. But if you come with me, you're going to be late for your own class."
"But –"
"Harry," Hermione rolled her eyes, but couldn't hide a smile, "I will make sure Seamus gets to class safety. You don't want to be late."
Harry gave a defeated sigh before kissing Seamus on the forehead. They waved their good-byes as Ron and Harry went up the stairs and Hermione and Seamus went down the hall.
It was hot and stuffy in Tralawney's room as usual. Harry beelined it for the table by the window and it opened it a bit to let some air in. The room soon started filling up with more students and eventually the professor. Class started without further hesitation.
Within ten minutes of the lesson, Harry could feel himself starting to get very drowsy. He knew he wasn't tired – he had a great night's sleep and felt perfectly fine all day. But now he was finding it difficult to keep his eyes open. Was it because the room? Harry quietly opened the window a little more, letting the cool breeze play across his face. Far from feeling relieved, however, it made Harry even more groggy. And without warning, he felt himself lose consciousness.
Harry was walking down the hallway once more…through the locked door that sprang open on its own….and finally through the door leading to the orbs. He went down the row, looking for a specific aisle: Aisle fifty-eight. He went to the very end of the row…he reached his hand out – it was so close…almost within his reach –
Harry suddenly jerked awake. He was breathing heavily, and he suddenly realized he was on the floor. Ron, Neville, and Professor Tralawney were standing over him, looking worried. Harry sat up, feeling slightly dizzy.
"You ok, mate?" Ron asked nervously, helping Harry to his feet.
"Y-yeah," Harry said, looking down. He realized the whole class was looking at him, muttering.
"You were saying something, Potter!" Tralawney was saying excitedly. "You were speaking in your sleep – perhaps you had a vision!"
"No, it was – it was a nightmare," Harry said, turning pink. The last thing he needed was for her to think he had any sort of gift. "I just fell asleep and had a bad dream, that's all."
"I'm not so sure of that, Potter," Tralawney said in her mystical voice. "I have my room set to the perfect atmosphere for stirring up visions! You could have the ability and not even know it!"
"All I have right now is a headache," Harry said, rubbing his scar. "I need to go." And with that said, Harry grabbed his things, bade Ron good-bye, and left before Tralawney could enquirer further.
Harry made the slow trek down the stairs. He was, in fact, getting a headache. It was strange, though. Usually, he got the headaches before he got the vision. What was different this time? And what was the strange orb that Voldemort wanted so desperately?
"Potter? What are you doing outside of class?"
Harry didn't realize he had made it to the Transfiguration hallway. Professor McGonagall was standing at her classroom door. She beckoned Harry to her.
"I had to go for a walk, Professor," Harry said. She raised her eyebrows. Harry knew it was no good keeping anything from her. "I kind of passed out in Divination just now…I think – well, I know – I had another vision."
Professor McGonagall looked up and down the halls before inviting him into the classroom. She shut the door him. "What was the vision of this time, Potter?"
"It was the same as it always is…whatever door Mr. Weasley was guarding the right he was attacked – I went through it. And then I found myself in this room full of orbs…and then I tried to grab one of them, but then I woke up."
Professor McGonagall watched Harry closely. "Potter, you need to get these visions under control. This cannot keep happening." She paused for a moment. "How are your lessons going with Professor Snape?"
Harry just shook his head. The last few lessons with Snape were just as horrible as the first. The constant influx of memories – both good ones involving Seamus, and bad ones involving self-harming – was really taking a toll on him. Not to mention the number of times he would fall during each invasion of his mind.
McGonagall sighed. "I know Professor Snape is the last teacher you want to take these lessons from. But we need you to try as hard as you can."
"I am, Professor. I just find it difficult to empty my mind every night. With exams coming up, Quidditch practice, homework –"
"I understand, Potter. I do." She looked at Harry sympathetically. "You just have to keep trying."
Harry nodded, thinking. He thought back to the conversation he and his friends had back at Grimmauld Place. He looked up at McGonagall, who was still watching him closely. "Professor…why do I have to stop the visions? I mean, if I didn't have them, Mr. Weasley could have died. What if someone else gets attacked? Wouldn't we want to know what's going on?"
"Potter, I understand where you're coming from. We are all grateful for you having that vision. But we cannot allow this connection to exist. It can be very dangerous for you. You do understand that, don't you?"
Harry nodded. "I'm sorry, Professor. I'm trying my best – I promise I'm not enjoying them."
"I know you're not." They stood there for a moment, each thinking. "Well, Potter, I think it best if you went back to your dorm. Try and rest a bit and work on emptying your mind."
Harry nodded left the classroom, heading straight for his dorm. He felt himself getting groggier with each step he took and almost breathed a sigh of relief when he finally made it to his room. Without even undressing, he kicked off his shoes and plopped face first onto his bed.
Harry stirred as he heard hushed voices. He felt his whole body aching as he turned his head towards the sound.
"Did he actually pass out or just fall asleep?"
"He sort of fell asleep and then slipped out of his chair."
"And you think it actually was a vision?"
"Oh absolutely, no doubt about it."
"Shay?" Harry lifted his head when he realized who was talking.
"Harry, you're awake! How are you feeling?" Seamus sat on the edge of Harry's bed, resting a hand on his back.
"Better – but my body does ache a bit."
"Maybe you should skip the lesson with Snape tonight." Ron suggested.
Harry sat up, stretched, and yawned big. "I can't. Professor McGonagall said these can't keep happening. I met her on my way from class." Harry added at Ron's questioning look.
"You're always so drained when you come back from those," Seamus said sympathetically, still rubbing his back.
"I know. But there's really not much I can do, is there?"
Later that night, after dinner, Harry made his way down to Snape's office once more, dreading the hour he had to spend in there. He tried to spend the rest of the afternoon emptying his mind, but with the new vision taking residence and the memory of his classmates' faces as he came to was hard to let go.
"Potter," Snape said as a way of greeting. Harry took his usual space in front of Snape's desk, his wand at the ready. "Have you been practicing?"
"As best as I could, sir," Harry said.
"We shall find out if it truly was your best," Snape said, his lip curling. He raised his wand, readying himself. "One…two…three…Legilimens!"
Harry was five, sitting in his dark cupboard, crying…He was trying to fend off hundreds of Dementors….He was being cleaned up by Seamus for the very first time…He was roaming down the orb room, looking for the right aisle…
Harry came to, laying on the floor once more. He was breathing heavily, not expecting the last memory to come up.
"What was that?" Snape asked, watching Harry closely.
"What was what?" Harry asked. "Sir," he added at Snape's look.
"The memory with the aisles of orbs," Snape said, narrowing his eyes.
Harry looked down, avoiding eye contact with Snape. "I, er, I had another vision this afternoon. But I've been trying my hardest to stop them, I swear!"
"One would think you wanted these visions, Potter."
"I don't enjoy them, sir." Harry said, his temper rising.
"You may not enjoy them, but I'm sure you enjoy the attention that comes along with them –"
"I don't go attention seeking!" Harry snapped.
Snape glared at Harry. "Again. One…two…"
But before Harry even raised his wand and for Snape to get to three, Harry's mind was being broken into once more…
Harry held onto Cedric's body….Voldemort coming out of the cauldron….His parents were standing in the mirror of Erised…
But the memories soon started changing to different ones…ones that were not his own…
A young boy with greasy black hair was watching a group of girls at the playground….the same boy was cowering in the corner of a room while his parents fought….Harry's father – it had to be him – He had his wand pointed at what Harry now realized was a teenage Snape, who flew into the air…
Harry felt an excruciating pain radiating up his spine. Snape had lifted the spell himself. He was standing behind his desk, giving Harry the most murderous look, his wand pointing at him.
"Get out," Snape growled.
"I- I swear I didn't –" Harry started. But Snape let out another rage filled growl.
" GET OUT!" Snape picked up a jar from the desk and threw it at Harry, who flew out of the office as fast as he could, the jar just missing his head.