Deus Fax Machina

Dreams of a Dark Door

Sophie spent at least one night a week helping Harry, though there seemed to be no great improvements. His classes with Snape had ended and Sophie quickly discovered why.

Harry confessed he was still having the dreams. Sophie had an inkling he liked them, he wanted to know what was behind the door. She didn't blame him, the door was becoming more and more regular in her own thoughts, she caught herself urging Harry through it when she saw it in their sessions.

Sophie was frustrated by Harry's inability to keep a clear mind before he slept but knew it was near impossible; not only was he having to study for exams, he was also the objective of desire for a mass murderer. It's not easy to be stress free when that's your day-to-day.

After speaking to Dumbledore, Sophie decided to change pace, trying to show Harry when he was being manipulated and when he was simply seeing through someone else. She did this by showing him her own thoughts, and then showing him things she wanted him to see. Sophie had to admit she was getting better at Legilimency while she taught Harry Occlumency. She was feeling rather powerful and as angry as Harry was prone to get, she did not want to give up the sessions for the selfish reasons of improving her own abilities.

'Harry, who's that man?' Sophie broke from Harry's thoughts, both of them sat down.

'My god father, Sirius Black.' Harry dropped his head to his hand, pushing his glasses out of the way as he rubbed his eyes.

'Where is he?' Sophie hadn't so much seen the man but felt the guilt Harry was feeling surrounding Sirius.

'He's... ahhh, so he was a convicted felon – wrongfully convicted – but no one else believes that so he's in hiding, under Dumbledore's watch.'

'Oh,' Sophie nodded she pressed a finger to the point between her brows to relive the building pressure. 'And you've been in contact with him?'

'Soph, I can't tell you this stuff, the more people who know the more dangerous it is.'

'Is he part of the Order?' Sophie lowered her voice. 'Is that where he is?'

'How do you...' Harry straightened up.

'Fred and George,' Sophie tucked her wand into her robes. 'They didn't tell me anything, just that it's the inspiration for DA.' Sophie added when she saw the now familiar mix of anger and confusion blending on Harry's face.

'Yeah, that's it, but you really shouldn't –'

'It's a bit late for that isn't it? I saw you looking at Snape's memory, I know why the twins set off the swamp and the fireworks, and you now know my grandma's a war criminal, I felt you see all that.'

Harry shook his head then began to nod.

'It's not really the same though is it? Your gran did one thing but everyone I know could be a criminal if you look at it the right way. You're not really in any danger, Voldemort isn't trying to kill you!'

For the first time, Sophie flinched hearing the word Voldemort.

'I know, I'm just saying, we've come this far, is there any point trying to hide stuff now?'

'Let's go.' Harry stood and tucked his wand in his robes too.

Sophie rolled her eyes.

'Do you think you'll be able to block your dreams tonight?'

'Sure.'

The End is Nigh