Dreams No Mortal Ever Dreamed Before

7. A Strange Mind


The next day Harry did not see Snape in the great hall nor did he have to attend a potions lesson so he had no chance to find out if yesterday had been a shared dream or not. After supper he split from his friends who returned to the tower to have a nice evening, to make his way to the dungeons.


On his way to Snape's office he unnoticed took a wrong turn and found himself facing Malfoy and his two bodyguards. The blonde slytherin glared at Harry.


“What are you doing in the dungeons? Oh right you are so incompetent in potions that you are forced to have a remedial class.”


Annoyed Harry stared into his grey eyes and easily he leaved through memories until he found one where both wizards were crawling through a long tunnel. Wondering how that came to be but not willing to ponder it yet, he pulled out with a smug expression.


“At least I am not squireling through a tunnel, but I am not a rat like you and your father are.”


The blonde slytherin seemed baffled for a moment until he spun around and walked into the opposite direction. Snickering to himself Harry returned to the right corridor and found the door to Snape's office open.


Walking inside Harry expected to see Snape but the room was empty and the door to his private chamber was closed. Frowning Harry looked around himself unsure what to do.


Deciding to wait for a while he sat down and tried to still his impatience. Instead he attempted to reach for the elder wizard's mind but found it sealed tightly shut.


Pushing a little harder Harry managed to bypass the defences and found himself in a strange mind- many of Snape's memories were blocked, hidden behind walls so strong that Harry saw no point in trying to unward them.


However his mind was filled with strange emotions of cruelty, hatred and devotion. Using the man's eyes Harry inhaled sharply as he saw Riddle perched on a wooden chair, his scarlet eyes flickering with disgust.


His voice sounded as if somebody was scratching with his finger nails across a chalk board, hoarse and barely human any more.


“Lucius, are you telling me that your little dragon refused to execute our little plan?”


He could hear a rustle of clothes to his left but Snape did not turn that way so he could only guess what was happening there.


“My dark lord, he has every intention to act on your excellent plan, but I fear Potter is under protection so powerful that Draco has no idea how to bypass them.” Lucius Malfoy, the little slimy piece of shit.


Turning the full weight of is gaze back on Harry Voldemort motioned for him to come forward. At his feet Harry fell to his knees, kissing the hem of his master's robe.


“Severus, you have so far never disappointed me. I want you to assist young Mr Malfoy in his plan. There must be a way to distract that old fool Dumbledore and you will find it. Report back in two weeks but do not act yet- we may only get one chance in capturing little Potter. And now all of my Death Eaters, I want you to go out and show our strength to the world.”


Moving away without having uttered one word Harry faced another Death Eater, his face now pulled down and revealing Malfoy's face.


“What are the plans for tonight?” Snape asked, his tone of voice even and collected. Malfoy on the other hand had red patches on his cheeks and sounded out of breath.


“We will raid Rimington, to the west. Our dark lord expects us to wreak havoc on the few muggles residing there.”


Snape chuckled. “Well, we do not want to disappoint him then. The muggles there will not know what hit them.”


He turned to the right and descended a small staircase that looked very broken down, some steps even missing. The first floor was even more run-down, broken furniture everywhere, the wallpapers peeling away at the walls.


Outside he saw more Death Eaters, their faces covered with the white masks, wands at the ready.


“Oh, this will be fun,” a woman cackled and Harry felt a twinge of disgust run through him- if it was Snape's feeling or his own, he could not say.


Bellatrix Lestrange, the murderer of his godfather. Feeling a tugging on his thoughts Harry felt Snape as he tried to push him out but he resisted. One Death Eater after the other apparated away until there was only Snape left.


“Potter, warn Dumbledore about the raid and get the fuck out of my mind,” he whispered.


Getting what Snape had been trying to tell him all along Harry retreated and quickly rose from his chair, back in Snape's office.


Sprinting away through the dark school, passing the staircase that went up to the owlery and another that would lead him back to Gryffindor tower, he was out of breath when he reached the gargoyle.


No idea what the password was Harry stared the figure as if he wanted it to move. When nothing happened he tried to reach out to tap into the headmaster's mind but found it completely blocked by walls that were so high and impenetrable that he did not bother with them.


Unlike with Snape there was no automatic idea how to bypass them but he had achieved what he wanted and withdrew when the gargoyle began to move. There was no need to knock on the door as if it swung open and revealed Dumbledore who was still dressed in his magenta robe, he had worn all day.


“Harry, what is the matter?”


Trying to still his breathing he leaned heavily against the wall.


“Rimington, to the west. The Death Eaters are attacking it at this moment.”


Dumbledore's blue eyes showed alarm and he walked back into the room revealing several people sitting everywhere in the small office, making it look rather brimmed.


“Kingston, send the Order to Rimington- there is a Death Eater attack as we are speaking. Keep an eye out for Severus.”


The other wizard nodded and when he rose some of the other wizards moved as well. Tonks, Mad Eye Moody and Lupin among them. They all touched a shoe and then they were gone in an instant.


Dumbledore and McGonagall were the only remaining people and they motioned for Harry to come in. He was pushed down in a chair, a cup of tea was put into his hands and then both faced him.


“What happened?” Dumbledore asked, his blue eyes for once not twinkling.


Harry tried to collect his thoughts which proved a little difficult because despite himself he felt as if a small part of him was still in Snape's head.


“Snape was not there when I went to his office. While I was waiting I tried to access his mind and it worked. He was at a run-down house and Lucius Malfoy was there too. And Voldemort of course. They obviously want to kidnap me from Hogwarts and Snape was asked to find a way how. Then Voldemort ordered them to attack Rimington and Snape ordered me to report it to you.”


Dumbledore nodded gravely but there was something flickering in his eyes.


“So you were able to use legelimency on Professor Snape while he was at the summon? Without him being present, without any visual contact?”


Harry nodded not sure what else to say.


Dumbledore sighed softly. “Then I guess the hand we have has changed again. Minerva, please accompany Harry to his dorm and then return- we have more work to do.”


The witch nodded and gently pushed Harry out of the door. Once again annoyed that he was sent to bed like a small child but knowing it would do no good to protest, he followed his head of house through the school until they reached the entrance to the common room.


McGonagall placed a soft hand on Harry's shoulder obviously meant as comfort.


“Now try to get some sleep Harry. You will see tomorrow everything will be a little clearer and thanks to your warning many muggles will be saved tonight.”


Quietly Harry nodded and went inside to get a couple of hours of restless sleep.


The last chapter for today and you may look forward to a pivotal moment in the story. Please, tell me what you think, I always love to hear from you.

BTW, No scene in this story is pointless and adds to the plot, just saying...