A/N: Hey guys! Welcome back! This week, I am not going to be able to post on Friday, but I might post tomorrow instead; we will see. There is some editing that I have to do for the next chapter, but if I get it done, then I will update the story.

I'd like to once again reiterate what I said about comments in the last chapter. Comments with foul language or anything like that will be removed and reported. I love comments, but I will not tolerate anything that can be considered inappropriate. Thanks.

Harry let go of the small gadget, and it fell to the floor, shattering into a million tiny pieces. However, no one seemed to care about it in the slightest.

What was this mark on his forehead? Why was it here? Why did it hurt him so much? His thoughts were whirling around in his head, not quite forming, leaving him more confused than ever.

Then Dumbledore broke the shocked silence.

"Harry," he said, "Did it say anything to you?" Dumbledore was still examining his mark with a grim expression.

"What do you mean? Didn't you hear it?"

How could they not have heard it? The voice had been so loud that it had practically busted his eardrums. However, the look he was getting from all three faces suggested that they had not heard anything at all.

"It said I broke an agreement and would pay. It also said something about me bearing a curse. Something about death, too. I think it was neither can live while, while… something… I can't remember right now." Harry finished defeated.

He could not remember everything the ring had just said to him. He was positive that he would be able to recall every detail later, but right now, through the jumble of confusion racing around his head, he could not.

"Was it neither can live while the other survives?" Dumbledore asked, looking as if he did not actually want to know the answer.

"Yes, that was it," Harry said, his eyes meeting Dumbledore's. "What does it mean?"

Instead of answering him, Dumbledore got up and started to pace around and around his office, his brain clearly hard at work.

After watching him for a while, Harry remembered Draco.

He had been here for a while now, between getting lost and then his talks with both Dumbledore and Sirius and Lupin. Draco would probably be very worried.

With great difficulty, Harry tried to rise to his feet. Lupin and Sirius both tried to make him sit again, but he pushed them away.

He held onto the chair for support as the blood rushed to his head. He was very dizzy, but he ignored the sensation and instead focused on getting to the desk.

He took one step and then another, trying not to shake, trying not to look weak in front of Sirius and Lupin.

When he reached the desk, he found a piece of parchment and a quill, and he carefully scrawled a message on it. The note read:

Dear Draco,

I am fine. I was just kept here for longer than I thought. Go to bed; I will see you tomorrow. I promise I am fine, you would know if I wasn't. I have a lot to tell you when I get back.

—Harry

Harry folded the letter and turned. Lupin and Sirius were both on their feet, waiting to catch him if he fell.

"Take this to Draco, have him read it, tell him I sent you, and remind him that he would know. Make sure he goes to bed. I have a feeling I'll be here a while longer."

Sirius accepted the note with a nod, and he and Lupin both made their way over to the fireplace.

"Wait," Harry said, making them pause. "Don't tell them what happened just now; wait till I figure it out myself."

"Okay," Lupin agreed, and they both stepped into the fire and vanished into a bath of green flames.

"Now that they are gone, tell me what happened." Harry said forcefully, "Tell me what this scar is. And don't tell me you don't know because you obviously do."

Dumbledore seemed to snap out of his thoughts at Harry's words, and he looked up at him.

"Forgive me, but I need time to think about all that has happened here. I will tell you, but I must think first. Come back here in two days, and I will tell you everything. I promise." Harry wanted to argue, but the look on Dumbledore's face told him not to.

"Fine," Harry said, and he sat down in his chair. "I am going to stay here until my color is better and I can walk normally again, then I'll go."

"Of course," Dumbledore said, and he waved his wand in Harry's direction, and a glass of Pepper Up potion appeared before him.

There was an immediate change as soon as he swallowed the healing elixir. His stomach seemed to unknot itself, and the pounding in his head diminished.

He really wanted the answers now; couldn't Dumbledore see that? However, Harry realized there was nothing to be done about it. No matter how badly he wanted answers, Dumbledore would make him wait two days.

Now, he just wanted to get out of this office. He wanted to talk to Draco, tell him about his meeting and everything that had happened. Most of all, he wanted to go to bed. He didn't want to think of what Voldemort meant by a curse or about that strange mark, which seemed to mean something huge to Dumbledore.

Nevertheless, he waited ten more minutes before rising from his seat. He wanted to make sure he could act normally in front of everyone. Though he was a bit shaky, he could stand normal again.

Dumbledore stopped his pacing again, and his eyes followed Harry to the fireplace. Though Harry's head was still pulsing rather painfully, he wanted to get out of the office.

"I will be back in two days for answers," Harry said slowly as he turned to the fireplace.

"Harry," Dumbledore called after him, "Dark and difficult times lie ahead, but you must be brave. Courage is something no one can take away from you." Harry looked at Dumbledore for a moment and then nodded, not quite sure what Dumbledore meant by this peculiar statement.

He thought about these words as he disappeared into a world of flames and fireplaces. When Harry fell out of the fireplace, it was clear he had gone from a world of peaceful contemplation to a world of complete chaos.

Draco was standing, arguing with Sirius and Lupin, Harry's letter disregarded on the table.

"—let me go to him." Draco was saying.

"Draco, he's fine!" Sirius said.

No one seemed to have noticed Harry's arrival.

"Then why did he need to write to me to tell me that?" Draco argued.

"I don't know why he did; I just know that he sent us to give it to you," Lupin said loudly.

Harry noticed Hermione and Ron in the corner. They looked as if they were unsure of what to do.

"Why can't I go to see him?" Draco challenged, taking a step toward the two men.

Harry could see that he was very angry, but he was hiding it fairly well. He had not lost control of his magic, and Harry wondered if he had found a way to release some of his pent-up magic.

"He was still talking with Dumbledore," Sirius said desperately.

"Lies," Draco hissed. "What did you do to him?"

"Nothing." Lupin insisted.

"Then, I ask again, why can't I see him?" Draco's voice was a dangerous whisper. Harry decided that this had gone far enough.

"Draco," He said sharply. "You are making a fool of yourself. Stop it." Draco turned quickly at the sound of Harry's voice.

"Harry," Draco said, hardly believing that he was there. "Are you—"

"I'm fine, Draco." Harry said, "Go upstairs; I'll join you in a moment." Harry's voice left no room for argument.

"Okay," Draco agreed, and he walked out of the kitchen without looking back.

"Are either of you injured?" Harry asked Lupin and Sirius.

"No," Lupin said, still looking slightly flustered.

"I think that it was good that both you and Draco came to stay with us," Sirius said with a small laugh. "You know how to stop each other from taking it too far."

"We have known each other for a while," Harry said. "What about you two," Harry turned to Ron and Hermione, "Anything wrong?"

"No," Ron said, "We're fine."

"I'm sorry about that," Harry said. "Draco overreacts when he gets worried."

"I'm glad you stopped him," Lupin said.

"I didn't really." Harry said truthfully, "If he hadn't done anything by then, he wouldn't have."

"How do you—?" Hermione started.

"We grew up together, Hermione." Harry said, "I know him." Hermione nodded but didn't say anything.

"Harry, are you okay?" Sirius asked, studying Harry closely.

"Yes, I'm fine." Harry said carefully, calculating every word. "Dumbledore turned out not to be a madman after all, so that was good."

"I wouldn't be too sure, mate," Ron said, "I am still convinced he is mental."

"He is weird but not as dangerous as I thought he would be." Harry forced himself to keep his tone light and conversational.

With that, Harry made his way out of the kitchen and wearily up the steps; the Horcrux had completely drained him. But as he got to the first landing, he heard his name.

It was Sirius and Lupin. Of course, it was; it was always them.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Lupin asked.

"Why," Harry said, his voice dangerously low. "would I not be okay?" His face warned them not to ask again.

What if someone overheard him? He didn't want to tell anyone about it yet. They seemed to get the hint.

"Are we good now?" Sirius asked, a hopeful look on his face.

"Yes," Harry said after a moment, "We are good." Harry's face was emotionless. "But be warned, I don't give second chances." He then turned and retreated into his room.

Draco was waiting for him; he had on sweatpants and no shirt. Harry saw both of their trunks were lying on the ground, large and open.

"I got tired of wearing the same thing, so I made our trunks grow."

"Great," Harry said, and he opened up his trunk and got changed.

When he, too, had changed, he sat down on the bed opposite Draco. Then he told him everything. First, he told him what had happened with Sirius and Lupin, including why he was mad at them in the first place. (A/N: sorry, I really didn't feel like going over everything that had just happened again…)

"Why wouldn't you have told me this sooner?" Draco asked, "I could have helped you work everything out or helped you pound them into the ground, whichever you wanted, really."

"Draco, that would have made everything worse," Harry said, smiling slightly. "It's over now, though. They apologized and said they didn't mean it, and I reviewed their minds; they were telling the truth."

"Good," Draco said, "Continue."

Harry then went on to tell him about his meeting with Dumbledore. "He has a phoenix, and I got to hold her!" Harry said he couldn't keep the excitement out of his voice. Despite all that had happened since holding Fawkes, it had been a dream come true.

"That's awesome," Draco said, smiling. He knew how much this meant to Harry.

Then Harry went on to tell him the important stuff. He told Draco how Dumbledore had already destroyed two of the Horcruxes. However, he paused at the part where he destroyed the ring. He wanted to tell Draco, and he would at some point, but not right now. He was tired and wanted to go to bed.

"I have another meeting with Dumbledore in two days to clear up some points. This time, when I go, I will burn you periodically to let you know I am alright."

"Good idea." Draco said, "Were they mad at me?"

"No, I don't think so, but really Draco? After our talk, you still allowed yourself to get angry? You have to control your emotions better. Only show anger when it will benefit you. Otherwise, keep a level head. Don't let them know what you are really feeling, and form a plan in silence. Don't let them know what you think until it is too late."

"I know," Draco sighed, "I'm sorry."

"We both have to be careful, Draco," Harry warned. "I might not be around to stop you. You need to be able to stop yourself."

"I'll work on it." Draco agreed.

"I will, too," Harry said with a smile.

"What's that on your forehead?" Draco asked suddenly.

"What?" Harry asked, struggling to look confused. Draco knew him too well.

"What are you not telling me?" He demanded, trying to push Harry's messy hair out of the way.

"Listen, Draco, I have to meet with Dumbledore first, then I promise I will tell you everything. Something did happen, but I don't understand it myself. I need to meet with Dumbledore, then I will explain."

Something in Harry's face told Draco not to argue, so he merely said, "Fine, but I am holding you to that."

"I would expect nothing less," Harry said as he climbed into bed.

Draco clicked off the lights, and barely two minutes later, both boys had drifted off into a blissful sleep.

Harry's eyes flew open, and he sat up.

He had a searing pain in his forehead, directly where he knew his scar was. He tried to reach up and touch it, but as soon as he made contact with it, he felt like his head was going to split open.

He gave a small gasp and decided he needed to get out of there. He didn't want to wake Draco up.

He quickly got up and crept out of the room, not even bothering to put on a shirt or shoes. The pain worsened as he made his way down the steps.

He walked through the kitchen and practically ran out of the back door. He thought he might have closed it slightly too loud, but it really did not matter. Harry had not experienced this kind of pain in quite a long time. It had been at least since before he learned to resist torture.

He sat down in the grass, his back against the side of the house, his head between his knees.

It was getting worse. The pounding was increasing, getting louder. The pain was controlling, absorbing him. Then, it gave a particularly violent lurch, and Harry was no longer in the garden.

He was in a dark room, which he recognized immediately as the dining hall of Slytherin Manor.

He reached out a long-fingered pale hand and stroked the snake curled around his shoulders. He was powerful. He alone was in control. Now, he would make Avery pay for his incompetence.

"Avery," he called in his high, cold voice, and a frail, blond man entered, only a shell of what he had once been.

"You have failed me, Avery," he said, rising from his seat. "You will now pay for your failure."

"M-My Lord?" Avery stuttered, but Harry raised his wand and said, "Crucio."

Harry heard Avery's screams so loud and pain-filled, and then they were suddenly not Avery's but his screams. As he realized this, he stopped screaming and opened his eyes.

Just like that, Harry was back in the garden, lying sprawled out on the ground. He had cried out; he knew he had. Surely, they had heard him; they would be coming to see what had made the noise, but he couldn't care less.

What had just happened to him?

It was almost as if he had read Voldemort's mind, though that was not possible, was it? He had never been able to read Voldemort's thoughts, even when they maintained eye contact. How would he be able to do so now, with no eye contact, from such a distance? It was not possible.

Maybe this had something to do with the curse the Horcrux had mentioned. His new scar was throbbing painfully, so he thought he must be correct in assuming this.

He sat up and caught his breath, waiting for someone to come out, but no one did. Maybe they hadn't heard, or maybe they just didn't care.

Either way, Harry was left alone, sitting in the dark, wondering how he could have seen what Voldemort was thinking from so far away.

He didn't know, but he knew he had to tell Dumbledore about it. But he couldn't, not right now, not in the middle of the night.

He lay back down on the ground, looking at the bright sky filled with stars, his scar still throbbing.

He was afraid to think about what this could mean. Being able to see into Voldemort's thoughts could not be a good thing.

The ring's words kept looming back to him in odd patterns.

You shall become what you sought to destroy. He should stop thinking about it…

Neither can live while the other survives. Dumbledore would tell him what that meant in a few days; better not to dwell on it…

You will now bear the curse. Was this what it had meant by the curse? Was this the curse? What was this even?

Harry wanted to stop, stop thinking, stop doing anything. He wanted all of these thoughts in his head to go away; they would explode out of him if they didn't.

Harry needed someone he could talk to. He needed someone who would not think he was crazy or overreacting.

He would normally go and talk with Draco; however, he did not want him to worry, and if he did talk with Draco, he would have to explain everything.

He hated admitting it, but he needed a friend, someone new. Who would he trust with something as private as his feelings?

Sirius or Lupin? No, he still didn't trust them completely. He had forgiven them, but he would never fully trust them.

Mr. or Mrs. Weasley? No, he barely knew them still. They were very nice but not the type to talk to about this.

Ron, maybe. He had been a good friend thus far, and Ron didn't seem to have a problem with him or Draco. The problem was he didn't know where Ron slept. It was the same with Hermione.

The twins? Not a chance; they would tease him to no end. They also wouldn't understand this. Really, no one he had thought of so far would. Who else was there?

Then, an image popped into his head of a girl with fiery red hair sitting on her bed, talking to him about her first year at school. Ginny, he would go talk to Ginny. She would understand better than anyone. She would know what it would be like to have Voldemort in your head, wouldn't she?

He quickly jumped to his feet and walked back into the still quiet house. As he passed the living room, he thought he might have heard something, but he dismissed it. It was the middle of the night; no one else would be up. He quietly tiptoed upstairs again and down the hall to her door. He was about to knock when he paused.

He still didn't know her very well, and he didn't want to wake her up. He needed to talk to someone, but should he just wait for Dumbledore?

He really wanted to tell someone what was on his mind, to explain his worries, to vent some of his feelings. He just needed someone to listen. Someone to tell him everything would be okay, even if everything wouldn't be okay.

But still…