"Nearly is the key word. Given a dim room and some aspirin, I can recover." He's always known that sooner or later the rest of the Death Eaters would learn of his existence and come for him. "And, while it's not the way I would've preferred testing it, we've proof that I'm still connected. Not as strongly as I was before, but it's there."

When he was younger, Harry wondered where Voldemort left off and he began. Did speaking Parseltongue strengthen that Other part of him? What could weaken it? Was there a way to starve it out? Without ready answers, he turned to Hermione and then to practical research.

"When we've more time, I'd like to go over the mess of the connection, because that's tied into why I can't cast, but for now, I'd best return to Hellsing and speak to Malfoy before anything else goes horribly awry."