Echo in My Mind

Chapter 15: Confrontations

"It's like a bad dream,

Another story,

That's running circles in the back of my mind-"

Out of Control, Rufio

~*~

Harry felt trapped. He couldn't move his arms and legs at all. Magic was bubbling up inside of him so fast he couldn't breathe. It all overtook him, exploded outward, and more magic took its place. He cried out in pain as another burst of powerful, raw magic exploded from him. The force driving this was unexplainable, and it scared Harry to no end. Another scream tore itself from his throat and the magical attack seemed to stop for a moment. Harry stopped straining, falling weakly and awkwardly onto the bed, his body unable to handle what was happening. Harry let out a weak cry for Ginny, not knowing if she was even there or not.

A few seconds later a he felt a warm hand brush his palm and small fingers laced with his. Ginny rested her hand on his cheek, rubbing it gently, and Harry leaned towards her, not having to open his eyes to know it was her. Everything was quiet for a few precious moments.

Harry let out a loud moan as his stomach clenched painfully. He felt his magic rising rapidly and he flinched away from Ginny's soothing strokes, afraid he would hurt her. His eyelids closed and his face screwed up in pain as his power surged forth. The infirmary shook once more at the force of the raw magic.

During this lapse, Dumbledore had been thinking of any possible explanation for this, or anything that could stop it. All he came up with was that Harry's magic had been pent up for so long, the boy having been unable to use it, that it couldn't be held in restraint any longer. What they needed to stop this was to get a restraining force on the magic.

"Ginny," the Headmaster spoke up. "I need you to open your link with Harry."

Ginny looked terrified at the thought and Dumbledore couldn't blame her. Hesitantly she laced her fingers with Harry's once more and felt their connection spark to life. His pain quickly became hers as it ran between them. Harry's next surge was rising, pushing to the surface, and just as Dumbledore had hoped, it was absorbed by Ginny through the connection.

The young witch screamed as Harry's magic pushed into her body. It prickled and pumped in her veins and pushed against her own magic. It burned white-hot and Ginny screamed again, unable to take it. The magic spread like fire up her arm and into her body, attacking and overwhelming her own. The flood of power became too much for her to handle.

The next thing Ginny knew she was the one in the hospital bed. Harry, looking white as a sheet, sat at her bedside. His elbows rested on the edge of her mattress and his hands cradled his head. She shifted in the bed and he jumped, staring at her with wide eyes. Relief flooded his face as she blinked.

"Bloody hell, Ginny, I'm so sorry," he whispered.

Ginny stared at him, confused. She couldn't remember what had happened after she opened her link with him. Harry read her expression and launched into explanation.

"You had to absorb some of my magic to help reset the balance between my restraints and my magic. You couldn't stop screaming and I was so afraid I'd hurt you badly..." he trailed off.

Ginny sat up slowly, resting her back against her pillows. Disbelief was written across her face. She couldn't believe Harry would be apologizing over something he so desperately needed, something that basically saved his life.

"Harry, we were afraid you would die! Dumbledore didn't have a clue what to do when you kept spurting off magic like that. I should be sorry for not trying to help you hold back your magic earlier. How long have I been out? Did your fever break?"

Harry shivered suddenly. "Just over a day. My fever is back down to about 38˚. I can manage it; I have been for the last month. It won't go away until I learn to completely control my magic."

"What do you mean you've been managing it for the past month?" Ginny said stiffly.

Harry looked away. "Remember back over Christmas break when I was having problems controlling my magic?" Ginny nodded. "Well I thought I had finally gained control of it, but I suppose I hadn't. After a while my magic started to grow again and Dumbledore thinks I must have unlocked the final bit of raw magic inside of me. It was around the time you and I finally found some time for each other and Dumbledore thinks that it must have been your love that helped unlock it." Harry broke off there, blushing faintly. "So, I couldn't restrain the new magic and it was acting up inside of me, giving me fevers, making me sicker. I'd been having trouble in training with Nathalie too. I would put so much extra power in my spells without meaning to that it left me weak. The magic was literally just spilling out of me. After one training session the fever just got so bad, I suppose, that I passed out and my magic finally got free. I hope you never have to go through anything like that, Gin. It hurts so bad, I couldn't even move my body."

He broke off again, allowing Ginny time to process all the new information. He readjusted his sitting position and found his body still protesting the majority of the movement. He felt his magic flare and winced as it bubbled away happily through his veins. Long gone was the feel of power and euphoria of the magical highs. Harry doubted that would come back until he had a better control of his magic, and then he figured it would send him right back to the state he was in now.

"How did-" Ginny said finally, "How did my love...?"

Harry sighed. After his fever had broken earlier he and Dumbledore had discussed these topics at length.

"The power the Dark Lord knows not, Ginny, isn't exactly magic. It's love, your love, Ron's love, Hermione's love, and everyone else's. The magic is fueled by love. Voldemort can't understand that emotion and it hurts him. Thinking of my love for ... Sirius... drove him out at the Department of Mysteries. Love is my weapon."

Feeling suddenly emotional because of Harry's statement, Ginny leaned over the edge of the bed and kissed him. A familiar ache rose inside of her as she pressed against his chapped lips and she leaned further over the edge. Harry shifted closer to her, pressing even harder against her. It had been a long time since they'd last shared a kiss and it had only made their desire grow. Eventually Ginny pulled back, her lips less than a centimeter to Harry's.

"Harry, I love you," she whispered. "If love is your greatest weapon, then let's hurt a certain evil wizard, eh?"

"Love you, Gin," Harry whispered, before tugging gently on her lower lip and pulling her back in.

~*~

Ginny was allowed to leave later that day but Harry was forced to stay because of his fever. Ginny had homework she had to take care of but then promised she would be back. For the first time he was alone. He cast his mind about for things to occupy his time with and then stumbled upon something he hadn't done in a while.

"Sirius..." he whispered in his mind.

No response came for a few moments and Harry panicked, fearing something had happened to his connection with his godfather.

"Harry!" came a jovial response. "Sorry about the delay, kiddo. How are you?"

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. "Not so well. I'm in the hospital again."

"I know," Sirius said.

"What do you mean, you know?" Harry asked quickly.

Sirius instantly ran to the window in the kitchen, regretting his mind's stupidity for allowing those words to escape. They hadn't planned to tell Harry about the window until much later, with all three of them watching the boy. Also, it wasn't supposed to have just slipped out.

"I know that you can't be so well if you're in the infirmary?" he tried as a quick cover-up.

He saw Harry sitting up and shaking his head.

"No, Sirius. I thought you'd be the last person to hide something from me. Are you watching me somehow?"

"Yes."

"How?" Harry demanded, looking around the room wildly.

"Lily charmed a window in the kitchen so that we could observe you. It's a complicated charm but basically the window will show you wherever you are. We watched one of you Quidditch matches and James was nearly crying when he saw how well you flew. Your parents are so proud of you, as am I. I - I can see you now."

He watched Harry turn his head in all directions possible, as if looking for the window. He could sense how desperately Harry wanted to see some sign of him.

"Harry, you can't see the other end of the window. Stop moving for a second."

Harry complied.

"Look up and to your left. Then wave."

Harry did as he was told, feeling silly for waving at what seemed like nothing but air.

"You have direct eye contact with me now, Harry."

Harry let out a small gasp. Then he dropped his hand and buried his face in his hands.

"Have I done," he started and then broke off. "Have I done anything my parents don't approve of? That you don't approve of?"

Sirius laughed. "Lily isn't particularly happy with how you've been acting with Ginny lately. She thinks you two act like you've both ingested lusting potions sometimes."

That earned a weak chuckle from Harry. Sirius could see the blush staining his cheeks.

"I have to go, Sirius, Dumbledore's at the door. Tell my parents... tell them I love them, and that I... I'm glad they're able to watch my life."

"All right, Harry. Goodbye."

Dumbledore swept into the hospital wing to find Harry sliding off his bed and walking a few steps to the window seat. The Headmaster went to ask Madam Pomfrey of the boy's condition. When he came back to talk to Harry, he found the boy staring blankly out the window.

"Harry," he called gently.

Harry focused on him slowly even though his attention seemed to remain elsewhere.

"Hello, Professor," he said in monotone, confirming Dumbledore's thoughts.

"Is something bothering you?" the Headmaster asked in a caring tone.

Harry shook his head no. He just felt like he didn't want to talk to anyone. He felt suddenly cold and stepped away from the window, crawling back under the warmth of the covers on his bed.

"Harry, I'm afraid I have to talk to you about your classes."

Harry sighed. He knew what was coming. Ever since the incident with his test paper back in December in Transfiguration his marks had been steadily falling in that class. He often found himself skipping the class to get more sleep in because it was his first class of the morning twice a week.

"Professor McGonagall has brought it to my attention that you are failing her class. If she hadn't known of your training and the time restraints you are under she would have forced you to drop the class weeks ago. She tells me your grades have been steadily falling for the past three months and that you haven't gotten higher than a P on any of your exams in that time, and that you've stopped handing in homework assignments. What disturbs her most is that you do not come to her class at least once a week. Harry, what is going on here?"

"I don't feel well," Harry muttered.

"We know that, Harry, that is why you are in the infirmary. We need to talk about your classes."

"No," Harry said forcefully. "I don't go to class because I don't feel well. I don't do the homework because I don't feel well and I don't study for tests for the same reason."

Dumbledore forced Harry to roll over, pulling back the blankets so he could see Harry's head. Grumbling, Harry gave in and sat up, pulling up the hood of his black sweatshirt.

"Please elaborate on feeling ill."

Harry closed his eyes. "I don't sleep well, I'm normally up at odd hours of the night. I'm dizzy and disoriented when I wake up in the morning, I feel nauseous. Ron or Ginny tells me to go back to sleep and they'll give Professor McGonagall or whoever some excuse. I manage to get up and go to the bathroom, most times I throw up, I really don't remember. I don't eat breakfast and stumble into whichever class I'm supposed to be in. Most of the time I feel too sick to eat lunch, and I skip dinner. I'm tired when I get back from training so I sleep and I don't do my homework. I can't focus on anything long enough to study it. That's about it, I suppose."

Concern was written across Dumbledore's face as he listened to Harry. He had noticed Harry's absence at mealtimes but thought he had either gone down to the kitchens or had his friends bring back food for him as they so often did. Now he wondered if the teenager ate what they brought him.

"Harry, you need to eat. You have no energy because you don't eat and you most likely feel sick because of that as well. Poppy!" he called and heard Harry groan loudly.

The nurse came bustling into the room. "Yes, Professor?"

"Weigh him, please."

Harry's eyes widened and he tried to scramble away from the nurse's wand. It was too late, however, and he couldn't go far on a bed. The number 120(lbs) flashed in red above him and Harry cringed. He heard a sharp intake of breath from Dumbledore, and a gasp from Madam Pomfrey.

"He - he needs to stay here," she concluded. "I'll make sure he eats four square meals a day. Potter, how did you let this happen?"

Harry faltered. "I'm not hungry."

"That's not good enough!" the nurse shrieked. "Until you gain five pounds you will not leave this wing!"

"But-" Harry spluttered. "I need to leave! There's homework and Quidditch. I have a match in a week and a half and I haven't had a chance to practice!"

Dumbledore immediately felt sorry for Harry as he watched the teenager protest his situation. Harry's homework situation was bad enough and he knew it would be almost torturous for Harry to miss a Quidditch match.

"Poppy, I suggest you allow Harry to attend his practices as long as he comes straight back when they end. He also needs to attend a few extra lessons with myself and other teachers. I request you let him free for these. Harry will return to his bed immediately afterwards."

Pomfrey gave Dumbledore a calculating glance, then nodded. Harry gave a weak smile.

"Now, Potter, it's lunchtime. I'll be back in a minute with food for you and you had better eat it all or you'll never see your broomstick again. That might be a good thing with the injuries you get on it..." she trailed off as she walked away.

Dumbledore chuckled merrily and Harry groaned.

~*~

"DIVE, POTTER!" Katie yelled from across the pitch.

Harry grinned like a fool and accelerated his broom downward. As soon as he'd gotten up in the air he'd felt the thrill of being back on his broom. The rush of adrenaline had sent him racing laps around the pitch. He didn't even stop before directing his broom straight down. He rolled out of his dive three feet before hitting the ground. Katie gave a triumphant cheer.

"That's my boy!" she called, coming over to clap him on the back.

Harry continued to grin like an idiot. He'd missed being up here so badly. He watched as the Chasers began a drill dodging the Bludgers the Beaters sent their way. He began to formulate a new play in his mind. He watched them for a few more minutes before going down to let out the Snitch.

When they called practice to an end about an hour later Harry felt a huge sense of disappointment. He had just released the Snitch again and was tearing after it when Katie blew the whistle. Harry kept going however, racing towards the fluttering golden ball. He heard a movement behind him and turned his head so he could look out of the corner of his eye. Ginny had flattened herself on her broom and was tearing after him.

"Trying to find the best Seeker?" Harry called back, laughing.

Ginny said nothing but caught up with him, shoving him out of her way. Harry kept laughing as he let Ginny edge ahead of him. He still had a few tricks up his sleeve. He knew how the Snitch worked, and knew that it was going to dive down to escape her.

Ginny glanced over her shoulder, wary that Harry had let her get so far ahead. Cursing herself, she knew something was up. No one could trick Harry when it came to Quidditch. He was smart, never tailing anyone, looking for the Snitch by himself. He suddenly took off, heading straight for her. Ginny stopped watching at that point. She headed straight for the Snitch.

Harry flew until he was right behind Ginny. She was only a few centimeters from where her fingertips could touch the little ball. Harry still had a few feet to go. He was aware that the entire team was watching him too, and decided to give them a little show. He flew right under Ginny's foot just as the Snitch dropped two feet. He flew upside-down to avoid getting his head hit on her broom, reached out his hand, and his fingers closed around the Snitch. He rocketed straight up in front of Ginny, watching her confused face turn angry, then amazed. She stopped in midair, sitting there as he swung around to a stop, his face in front of hers. They hadn't been this close in weeks.

"You-" Ginny started, sucking in a breath. "You really are a great flyer."

Harry smiled. "You're not so bad yourself. The Snitch never stays in a straight line, so the Seeker has to be a little dangerous sometimes."

Ginny gave a slow seductive smile as she wrapped her arms around Harry's neck.

"Dangerous, eh? I like it."

She kissed him with a frightening intensity before Ron's yelling reached their ears. Ginny smiled, not blushing at all at the very public display of affection, then pulled back and tore off to the ground. Harry shook his head, once again grinning like an idiot, and went down to the team with Snitch in hand.

Harry was the last one in the showers. He'd been sitting outside for a few minutes while everyone else went in to shower and change. The fresh air felt good to him and he wanted to prolong going back to the infirmary as long as possible. He lay back in the snow-free grass, which was rare for March. He tipped his head up slightly to watch the sunset. He found he liked the way the sun lit the clouds, giving them an orange tint. The beauty of it all took his mind off everything else he didn't want to think about.

When he finally went in to the changing room he had thought he was alone. He hadn't been in the shower a minute before he heard feet shuffling outside. Peeking his head out he saw that it was Ginny. He was about to tell her to go on without him when he saw that her hair was dry and she was still half in her uniform. He raised his eyebrow as her eyes met his and she pulled off her shirt. He ducked his head under the showerhead and wasn't surprised when Ginny slipped in beside him a moment later. What did surprise him, however, was the fact that she slammed him up against the shower wall and began kissing him.

It was needless to say that Harry didn't return to the infirmary until well after dinnertime.

~*~

Harry wandered into the Room of Requirement two days later for his first training session since he had been locked up in the infirmary. Nathalie hadn't arrived yet so Harry sat with his back against the wall, his mind wandering. In the four days since Madam Pomfrey had weighed him, he'd managed to gain two pounds. It was painful for him, however, to eat so much compared to what he normally did. He wondered if the nurse would actually let him go when he gained five pounds.

"Salut, Harry," Nathalie greeted as she walked in the door. "Sorry about the delay. I was in a meeting with Professor Dumbledore."

"Hi."

Nathalie clapped her hands. "Today we're going to start off easily because I know that you're still weak. Wandlessly, I want you to shoot a few spells at me as a warm up. Just pick any spell, but keep away from ancient magic, s'il te plaît - please."

Harry nodded, standing slowly. His right arm protested in pain as he lifted it to cast a spell. The pain that he had felt so horribly in the hospital wing had been caused by his unruly magic outbursts, and since extra magic for spells had traveled through his right arm it still hurt. Harry started off very simply with an "Expelliarmus," followed by a few "Stupefy"'s in quick succession. He then threw around a few flame spells and a few more stunners before Nathalie called a stop.

"Good, good," she muttered, lowering her wand and her shield charm. "Did you feel any weakness after firing the spells?"

Harry shook his head no. He felt fine, and even felt his magic itching to get on to more advanced spells so it could escape his body. Nathalie looked at him curiously as he flexed his fingers in anticipation but didn't say anything.

"All right, Harry. Do you think you can handle doing some of the ancient magic spells you've been working on?"

"Yes."

"Then let's see them. Do the Impedo Glacialis on me and one of the easier fire spells."

Harry focused his magic and chanted the spell. The Impedo Glacialis that left his hand carried so much magic that it shattered Nathalie's shield charm, and she dodged just in time to miss the refraction of it. Harry felt his magic rushing back through his body and recognized the feel of a magical high. He didn't understand how he could have ever thought about giving this amazing feeling up.

Harry continued with a dangerous fire spell. It was not only a spell from ancient times but was also classified as an Elemental Spell, because Fire was one of the elements of the Earth and it was being called upon to perform the spell. This fire spell had quickly become Harry's favorite. He pooled the fire between his two hands, the flames between his palms. Nathalie tried to stop him, saying he was getting ahead of himself. Harry didn't care and he let the spell lose anyway.

Nathalie shrieked and dove out of the way as a massive fireball was released. The flames caught the hem of her robes as she dove. This seemed to bring Harry back to his senses because he quickly thought of water spilling on the ignited cloth, which it did. He dispelled the fireball and helped Nathalie to her feet.

Harry felt weird now. His magic was on a high again but he couldn't feel it full force. Seeing someone he actually cared about in danger from one of his spells had a strange affect on him. He felt an eerie calm settle over him. His magic continued to flow around but he no longer felt the strange urge to shoot off a spell. He snapped out of his thoughts as he noticed Nathalie staring at him.

"I'm really sorry," Harry said, looking sheepish. "I don't know what came over me."

Nathalie patted his shoulder. "It's all right. There is no harm done. Just make sure you can control your magic. Letting it loose like that is dangerous, even if you unleash it on the Death Eaters. You have great power, Harry, but it will kill you if you don't learn to use it properly."

Harry nodded in agreement. Nathalie let a slow smile cross her face.

"Would you like to take a break?" she asked.

"Yeah."

They settled down against the wall and Nathalie conjured two glasses of water. Harry downed his quickly while she drank hers in small sips. He bent his knees and laid his arm across them, as he required a bottle of diluted firewhisky. Nathalie gave him a disapproving look as he took a large swig from the bottle, but didn't comment out loud. Harry often drank the watered down alcohol during breaks and she found it seemed to soothe him. When they would begin dueling again she found him to be calmer, his movements and spells more thought out and precise.

Anything to make him less dangerous, she thought.

"Nathalie?" Harry spoke suddenly.

"Yes?"

"Is there any chance you could work with me on something different?"

Nathalie frowned. "What is it, Harry?"

"You remember when I told you about my connection with Ginny?" Nathalie nodded. "Well, I was wondering, since you seemed to know a bit about those types of links, if you could help us strengthen it? Maybe make it strong enough that we could talk in our heads?"

Harry went silent after that. Nathalie thought about his proposal, calculating when they would all have the time to work on it, and approximately how long it would take to master communication through the link. After a few minutes she looked back at Harry and smiled.

"All right, Harry. I'll help you and Ginny. Bring her with you when you come to your next session."

Harry nodded and his lips curved up. "Thank you."

Nathalie laid her hand on his shoulder. Then she stood, bringing her wand out of the pocket of her robes. She motioned for Harry to stand as well. The break was over. Harry took a final swig of his drink before banishing it.

"Ready, Harry?"

"Ready to beat you, if that's what you mean," he smirked.

Nathalie laughed. "In your dreams."

And it turned out to be something that only happened in his dreams.

~*~

"Goodnight, Ginny, Harry!" Hermione called.

"G'night," Ron added after.

Harry and Ginny waved and started up the stairs. It had been an exhausting Saturday for Harry. He had to go around to his teachers and make up his classes, as well as spending the entire week making up his assignments. He'd been up since ten in the morning and in the library working on the endless stream of homework.

Harry yawned as he fell onto his bed. He gave a loud, "Oof," a few seconds later when Ginny plopped down on his stomach. She pressed her full weight on him, pushing her breasts into his chest. Harry smiled at her and brought his fingers up to run through her silky hair. She kissed him on the lips and then slid off him to curl up against his side. She kissed his neck and watched his eyes close. They lay quietly for a long time.

Ginny stood outside on the Quidditch Pitch. It was a frosty, windy night, and her hair whipped around her, blowing over her face and shoulders in an almost theatrical way. She was waiting for Harry and decided to fly a few laps on her broom while she waited. Ginny mounted her broom and pushed off, the wind helping to propel her into the air faster. Once she got to a stable height, she tugged the hair elastic off her wrist and swooped her hair up into a messy ponytail.

Ginny flew for a few more minutes before someone flew up beside her. In the dark, she saw the boyish figure immediately, but took a little bit longer to recognize the unkempt black head. The boy came into view and smiled.

"Hey, Harry."

Harry didn't say anything in greeting. However, he leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. He pulled away in a flash, long before Ginny even had a chance to realize that the lips didn't feel like Harry's.

The two took off, flying laps and playing games. What seemed to be an hour later, Harry stopped abruptly in their race across the pitch. Ginny pulled to a stop and flew back to sit in midair next to him. She turned, looking up into his emerald eyes to see what was wrong.

They weren't emerald.

Tom Riddle's feral grin took over his face as he grabbed her wrists.

Ginny screamed.

She came back to consciousness with a start. Her eyes flashed open and were met with the darkness of night. She was painfully aware of her rapid breathing and was surprised it hadn't awakened Harry. Then she looked at the figure sitting up on the edge of the bed, hunched over, elbows on knees, head resting on his upturned palms. Her quick movements caused him to turn his head. In the darkness, Ginny couldn't see his eyes, but she could see the wavy dark hair. She screamed again, backing away from Harry, and off the bed. She scrambled over to Ron's four-poster thankfully knowing Hermione wasn't there.

Ron woke with a start when Ginny collapsed on his bed. He stared up at her in confusion, and then glanced over at Harry's hunched form. Ginny gripped Ron's arm tightly, like she used to do when she was younger the summer after her first year.

"Riddle," she muttered, sinking into his awaiting, calming arms.

Ron nodded his understanding and hugged her tightly to him. He murmured nonsense but soothing words into her ear and then began to sing their Mum's old lullaby. Ginny's tenseness vanished and she fell asleep shortly after.

Ron stayed awake, however, watching Harry. The teen was gripping his hair, tugging at it repeatedly. Finally he slammed his fist down on his bed. In obvious frustration he stood and raked his hand through his hair. He whirled around to face Ron and Ginny. His eyes fell over his girlfriend's sleeping form, then on his friend's watchful eyes. Hanging his head in what Ron interpreted as despair, Harry quietly opened the dormitory door and slipped out.

Hermione, Gryffindor's notorious early riser, lived up to her title when she found Harry sleeping on the couch in front of the fire at 7:30 in the morning. She walked over to him quietly, trying not to wake him. She knelt down beside his head and placed her fingers on his forehead. Her cool touch caused his eyelids to flutter open. Hermione cursed herself inwardly. She knew Harry was always a light sleeper.

"Good morning," Hermione spoke softly.

Harry let out a low groan. He shifted his legs a bit under the blanket and then shut his eyes again.

"'S too damn early if you're the only one up, 'Mione," he muttered sleepily.

Hermione laughed quietly. "It's 7:30," she pretended to scoff. "That's hardly early."

"Come back in three hours. When no one's -" yawn - "up yet we'll rethink your 'hardly early'."

Hermione smiled at his attempt to argue with her. He was still in such a sleepy haze he was having trouble forming his sentences. Any differences they had over the past few weeks seemed to have been forgotten.

"All right, Harry. Three hours, then we talk."

Harry grunted.

"Now, lift yourself up for a second," she commanded.

Harry raised his head slightly and Hermione chuckled. She pushed him the rest of the way up then plopped down in the space his head had just occupied. When she let his upper body back down, his head fit comfortably in her lap. She began to run her hands through his impossibly messy hair.

"See, Harry, this isn't so bad."

When she received no response she nearly laughed again. He'd already fallen asleep.

Unfortunately for Harry's exhausted body, Ron and Ginny came down two hours later, effectively cutting off Harry's last hour of sleep. Ron leaned over Harry to kiss Hermione's forehead and Ginny cupped Harry's face. Her heated hand woke him up, just as Hermione's cool fingers had two hours earlier.

Harry blinked blearily and let out a huff of air. He shifted his legs once more, trying to get comfortable. Ginny kissed his forehead and pulled back, going to on the arm of the chair Ron was occupying. She toyed with the fabric, alerting Hermione to the fact something wasn't right.

"Ginny, is something bothering you?"

Ginny stopped playing with the fabric abruptly. She stared up at Hermione and nodded slowly.

"You're having nightmares," Harry commented. "Tom Riddle possibly, because that would explain why you backed away from me when you woke up."

"How would that explain it?" Hermione questioned.

Harry shifted his gaze to her. "I look just like him, Hermione. When Ginny saw him in the chamber he was sixteen. We have the same messy black hair, pale face... Hell, even Dumbledore noticed the resemblance when I was twelve."

Hermione let out a soft, "Oh."

"Yes," Ginny said quietly. "It's Riddle again. Only they're different. I'm not dreaming about him in the Chamber anymore. In all the dreams, I'm always doing something with Harry and in the last minute of the dream I realize that it's not Harry, it's Tom. It scares me that I can't tell the difference."

Ron reached up a hand to stroke Ginny's hair, offering comfort like he had after her experience in the Chamber. He was a little surprised to see that Harry was not commenting, rather he was staring at nothing, his eyes averted away from Ginny.

"Do you think the dreams are trying to tell you something?" Ron asked.

Ginny shrugged. Hermione, however, looked thoughtful.

"Maybe your mind is trying to make some connection between Harry and Riddle?" she suggested.

"But what?" Ginny said, at a loss to think of what the connection would be.

Harry shot up at the statement. "I'll tell you what it means," he said darkly. "It means that I'm just as dangerous and bad as Tom Riddle is, and that you all need to stay the hell away from me."

With that he stormed from the common room, leaving shocked faces on his three friends. Hermione's quickly turned back to one of thoughtfulness.

"What if-" she started slowly. "What if he's right? What if your subconscious is comparing Harry to Riddle that way?"

Ginny shook her head no immediately. She shared a glance with Ron, however, that made her realize, with a sinking feeling, that Harry might have been right.

~*~

"Professor Moody!" Harry called, rapping sharply on the door to his Defense teacher's office. "Professor!"

He raised his fist to knock again when the door swung open. Mad-Eye Moody's gnarled face stared back at him, slowly appraising his pajama pants and baggy sweatshirt. He motioned for Harry to enter the office.

"What can I do for you, Potter?"

"Do you think I'm a danger to my friends?" Harry asked straight up.

Moody looked faintly surprised at the forwardness of the question. He had an answer, nonetheless.

"If you don't control your magic, yes."

Harry rolled his eyes. That was the answer on everyone's tongues these days.

"I was thinking more in the category of me turning evil and killing my friends."

"No, Potter, I do not believe you would turn against your friends."

Harry's eyes swept the room, coming to rest on the foe glass sitting on the edge of Moody's desk. Dark shapes moved back and forth in it, though none were distinguishable. Vaguely, Harry wondered what would happen if some of the Slytherins, a select few of course, were to walk in the room.

"Potter," Moody started. "Potter! Constant vigilance!" he yelled as Harry started, nearly falling off his chair in surprise.

"Sorry, Professor," he muttered.

"Don't apologize. Just keep on your toes," Moody snapped. "Now, is there anything else you want?"

Harry paused a moment before asking his question. He'd be doing something under Dumbledore's nose, without the Headmaster knowing. It felt good to be doing something secret and almost rebellious under the old wizard's nose. No matter how loyal he was to Dumbledore, being a pawn in the plans was pushing Harry to his limits.

"There is, in fact," he said in a low voice, "something else."

Moody clanked around his desk as Harry talked, lowering himself into his chair.

"I want to learn more than I am. I want to be better prepared to fight Voldemort. I want to end this as soon as possible. Professor, Nathalie isn't teaching me enough. She's under Dumbledore's orders as well, not to teach me more than they think is necessary." He paused, letting the first bit sink in. "I can do physical training on my own, but there's other things I want to do. I want someone to teach me how to Apparate."

Moody looked skeptical. "You'll be learning in a few months anyway."

Harry stood abruptly. "I need to know now. I can't wait until I have a license to Apparate. What if I'm about to be hit by a deadly, unavoidable curse? Apparate. I want you to teach me, or find someone else who will."

Moody did not say anything, though he frowned. Harry suddenly felt a great animosity towards the Professor for not offering to teach him at once. With a final glance at the scarred man, he stood and stormed from the office.

Muttering to himself on the way out of the castle, Harry wasn't watching where he was going. He flew down two flights of stairs and ran smack into someone at the bottom. Dazed, he stumbled back, landing hard on the bottom three steps. Severus Snape stared back at him, a look of utmost loathing.

"Do try to watch where you're going, Potter. Ten points from Gryffindor," he sneered.

Harry shot him an angry look. "Should have knocked you to the ground."

Inside his head he could hear a very Hermione-like voice gasp at his audacity. Harry knew he'd just landed himself in a detention with the Potions Master. He was in such a foul mood that he didn't even care.

"Detention, Potter. Be at my office Wednesday at eight."

Harry pushed himself up and stalked away.

~~**~~