A/N:
This one shot has been written as part of a challenge set by the lovely people over at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments)
The task was to write about Draco Malfoy (set during Half Blood Prince/Deathly Hallows) as part of the extra credit for Charms.
Gringotts Prompt Bank: HP Quote 1 - "In our dreams, we enter a world that is entirely our own." - Albus Dumbledore; First line 2 - Things weren't exactly going to plan; Last line 5: He/She closed his/her eyes, ready to sleep.; Phrase/saying 5 - Put a sock in it
Lessons from Aunt Bella
Things weren't exactly going to plan. Becoming a Death Eater wasn't supposed to be this difficult. He had no idea how he was going to accomplish what had been asked of him, but he knew that he must if he was to restore his family's reputation and standing within the community.
His Aunt Bellatrix had offered to train him in the art of Occlumency to help him keep his thoughts guarded from those skilled at Legilimency. With very good reason she suspected that Severus Snape's loyalty was dubious and she was adamant that he could not and should not be allowed to know Draco's plans.
As Draco walked around the garden clearing his mind, he recalled one particular lesson with his Aunt Bella a few weeks ago when she had broken through his carefully constructed, yet shaky barrier
"Legilimens," Bellatrix had cried, her wand pointing directly at her brave and brilliant nephew.
She had caught him off guard and she quickly broke through his barrier. All the thoughts that she found were full of Astoria Greengrass, the liberal minded younger sister of the girl that his parents were hoping he would marry one day.
His Aunt Bella had cackled with joy at the discovery and teased him endless about it in her own maniacal way.
"Put a sock in it, and carry on teaching me," Draco had demanded when he got to the end of his tether with her, closing his eyes and refocusing his mind.
He felt the pressure on his mind, a dull little ache in his temples and he knew that someone was attempting to penetrate his mind. He reinforced his guard and cleared his mind of any extra bits of clutter that may be present there. As the pressure intensified, so did his barrier and determination to keep whoever it was out.
"CUT IT OUT AUNT BELLA!" he yelled in the direction of the house and his sadistic aunt. As he turned around he saw his aunt slyly smile as she slid away from the window.
That night as Draco got ready for bed, he knew that he had to be mentally prepared for another attempted attack on his mind from Bellatrix. The words from his last lesson with her echoed in his mind as he clambered into bed; "In our dreams, we enter a world that is entirely our own," she had said. "And that is when our minds are most vulnerable. Keep your mind guarded at all times Draco. Skilled Legilimens can penetrate your mind anytime and anywhere."
Draco went through the motions and cleared his mind, before he closed his eyes, ready to sleep.
A/N:
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