As Harry’s luck would have it, he did not have long to wait to learn Voldemort’s reaction to his new found ability, as he knew that the Dark Lord would probably be able to perceive any tampering with the links he branded on his followers. Even though he took all the precautions he could, sealing his mind tightly, the mental attack that hit him in the early morning hours was more an exercise in excruciating pain than anything else. Having taken the precaution of placing a silencing charm around his four-poster, the gut-wrenching screams went unnoticed by his dorm mates, knowing there was nothing that would help him this time.

Whispering voices penetrated the edge of the darkness that surrounded him, and a small voice in the corner of his mind told him that he was probably in a lot of trouble. His brain felt sore, his head pounding with pain, and his stomach rolled ominously, as Harry pulled himself towards the brightness beyond his closed eyes. A small hand carding through his hair brought a smile to his face, as he forced an eye open. The smell alone told him he was back in the hospital wing, somewhere down the line of beds someone moaned pitifully, and he was afraid it had been him. Another hand rested reassuringly on his shoulder.

“Harry?” Ginny’s blurry face swam into view, her hand still resting in his hair.

His stomach churned, and the larger hand pulled him on to his side, shoving a basin under his face as he retched. Rolling to his back, Harry took the glasses that suddenly appeared in front of his nose, and allowed Ron to help his sit up. The lanky redhead handed him a vial of blue potion and then another vial of light pink, which Harry recognized as a pain draught. Hermione’s concerned face joined the others as he handed the empty vials back.

“Bloody hell, Harry, that was one of the worse ones you’ve had!” Ron exclaimed.

“Not to mention that Remus is furious with you for putting up the silencing charm,” Hermione added.

“There wasn’t anything that he, or you guys, could have done this time.”

Harry’s throat was raw and voice sounded hoarse to his own ears. Ginny reached over and took his hand, as Ron handed him a goblet of water wrapping his own hand around Harry’s trembling one to help him drink. With muttered thanks, he leaned back against the pillows.

“What happened, Harry?” Hermione asked softly, seeing Harry dart a look around the room, she added, “it’s lunch time and we’re sitting with you while the others are eating.”

Sipping on the water, he swore them to secrecy and began to tell them in general terms what had happened in the Headmaster’s office the prior night. Hermione gasped as he described what he had done with Professor Snape’s dark mark, and how it had disappeared. Having helped him research magical bonds and marks, she would know more than the other two exactly what extent he had gone to in order to remove the mark.

“And you think that Voldemort was able to feel you doing that, Harry?” His brown haired friend asked.

“Yes,” he answered, “and I put up the silencing charm because I knew I would be feeling his anger, and there’s nothing anyone can do to help when that happens.”

“Which is about what I figured, young man, and you should have known to tell me so that you could have stayed with me last night or come down here to the hospital wing.” Remus Lupin stepped around the curtains placed to provide privacy, a stern look on his tired face. “I am not happy that you laid up in the dorm, screaming in pain for who knows how long. No one knew.”

Harry had the grace to look embarrassed, and dropped his eyes. “I’m sorry, Remus.”

“Lunch is almost over, so you lot get down there, and I will send Harry to you after I flay him a bit.”

Remus made shooing motions with his hands, and looked the other way as Ginny pressed a lingering kiss to the young wizard’s lips before running to catch up to her brother and his girlfriend. Pink tinged the pale cheeks of the teenager, but he met his godfather’s eyes unflinchingly.

“It is a good thing that it is Saturday, young man, and you haven’t missed any more classes,” the good-natured man told him with a hint of steel in his voice, “and if I ever catch you doing something like this again, I will move you into my rooms for the rest of the term.”

“Yes, sir,” Harry dropped his eyes, feeling guilty for having upset the older wizard, “I’m sorry, Remus.”

A hand fell his shoulder, and he looked up miserably, glad to see that his guardian was now smiling at him.

“Severus was rather dismayed that you had suffered…”

“That you had suffered in true Gryffindor style, alone, instead of where you might have been taken care of, Mister Potter.” The stoic Potions Master stepped up to his bedside. “Just when I believe you have final gained access to the intelligence, I find that fear is hopelessly locked some where in that brain of yours. And when we might actually survive this war, Potter, you do something idiotic.”

Harry looked up with a frown at the sharp words. There was no bite in the tone, but he saw an anxious frown on the older man’s face. He sighed, and watched as the Headmaster and his Head of House both followed Professor Snape to his bedside.

“Harry, my boy, how are you feeling?” Albus Dumbledore placed his hand on Harry’s forehead.

“Better, sir,” Harry answered, truly wishing everyone would just go away, “I didn’t know the reaction was going to be quite that, uh, forceful, sir, and no, I won’t be doing it again, Professor.”

The Headmaster smiled down at him. “Ah, I see Severus has expressed his views to you, Harry.”

“He and Remus both, sir.”

“Good, please heed them in the future. For now, Madame Pomfrey said you could leave when ever you felt up to it.”

“Yes, sir.” Harry was all for everyone leaving him alone.

It was mid-afternoon that Harry finally climbed through the portrait hole and collapsed into the chair Ginny vacated for him, before she settled back down on his lap. As she snuggled to his chest, Harry told them he’d been cleared by the medi-witch, who made him eat lunch before she let him leave. Catching Hermione’s eye, he gave her a significant look, and she smoothly changed the subject to homework, which led to a debate on whether to get their studying out of the way, or spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing.

Harry and Hermione left to go to the library later while Ron and Ginny played a game of wizard chess. Along the way, Harry explained to his best friend exactly what had happened when he had pushed his magic into the Dark Mark on Snape arm. He told her what the Headmaster had said about doing all the research they could in the next week, especially in the area of mind links, and bonds. As they walked past the Great Hall, Harry was relaying in a low voice how the he had snapped the magical strands when a hand grabbed his upper arm and pulled him to a stop.

“Really, Potter, you need to watch where you are going in the hallways!” The tall black clad figure of the Potions Master stood beside him. “I want both of you in my office now!”

Harry blinked up at Professor Snape in surprise, before being spun around and sent towards the dungeons. Seeing that Hermione kept her face focused on the floor the entire way to Snape’s office, Harry wasn’t sure whether they were truly in trouble or not. Stepping into the dimly lit office never failed to cause a shudder to running down Harry’s spine; the room held some of his worst memories. Slamming the door closed behind him with a wave of his hand, Harry watched as the older wizard pushed past them in a flurry of robes. A muttered spell warded the door and threw up silencing charms, and the fireplace blazed. Two chairs stood in front of the desk, and Harry’s head snapped up as a tea tray materialized on the desk top.

“Close your mouth, Mister Potter, before something flies in, and sit down.”

The smirk on the shallow face could almost be called a smile, Harry thought, as he sat. Hermione made a noise that sounded a lot like a snigger, but she just looked back at him as she sat in the next chair. Severus Snape settled himself behind his desk and poured three cups of tea.

“I take it you are fully recovered from last night, Harry?”

Taking the cup handed to him, Harry nodded as he took a sip. “And you, sir?”

“Mine was nothing but a twinge, I only regret that it took me as long as it did to ascertain the source,” the Potions Master waved away his concern, “you had been in pain for…”

Harry found himself staring blankly at the older wizard, having no idea what the man was talking about.

“You did not tell him, Miss Granger?”

“I have hardly had the opportunity, Professor!” Hermione protested, her teacup clattering on to the desk.

Looking back and forth between them, Harry was feeling very confused, and he looked beseeching at his best friend.

“Professor Snape felt your attack this morning, went to Remus, and that’s how they found you,” Hermione told him, “I was going to tell you when we got to the library.”

Swinging back to stare at the dark haired man behind the desk, Harry found that he was watching them intently. “How?”

“I am not certain, Harry, although the Headmaster believes it may have as much to do with the Occlumency lessons as with what happened earlier last night. Never the less, it may be something that will prove helpful should you need assistance next Saturday.”

“What do you mean?” Harry asked, not understanding what Snape was trying to say.

Picking up a thin black leather bound book from the corner of his desk, Professor Snape leaned toward him, placing it in Harry’s outstretched hand. He examined the title Mind Links: A Study of Occlumency and Legilimency.

“What exactly does this mean, sir?” Harry was uncomfortable with the thought that Snape could really read his mind now.

“It means that I might be able to help you insulate your mind while you try and sever the connection with the Dark Lord, or at least know if something goes wrong,” The dark eyes met his solemnly, “and at least be able to tell the Headmaster.”

Harry swallowed, still not sure whether he like the idea of anyone being able to gain access to his mind, no matter how benevolent. It was bad enough that he was linked with Voldemort through his blasted scar, but the idea that both Dumbledore and Snape had some kind of access, too, was a bit creepy. Glancing at the book in his hand, Harry wondered if this might be something that would actually help.

“Professor, if I am focused on severing the magical strand that causes my pain, and Vold…the Dark Lord does try to force his way through the link, you could at least warn me, couldn’t you?”

“I think I might be able to, but we won’t know until we try. That book does describe a somewhat similar situation, and how Legilimency was an aid to the solution. I think you still need to spend the week research other types of bonds and such, as the Headmaster indicated, but add this text as well.”

Harry nodded, turning to Hermione. “Professor Dumbledore said you could be there with me, Hermione, next Saturday.”

“Of course, Harry, and I will help you with the research as well.”

“Well then, I guess we need to get started,” Standing up, Harry replaced his teacup on the tray, and Hermione did the same, “Thank you, sir for your help.”

“I am afraid we will need all the help we can get in this venture, Mister Potter.”