A/N: :V 2nd CHAPTER
Chapter 2
"Severus?" Dumbledore asked before the Potions master could get away.
Severus grimaced, he knew what that tone of voice meant. "What?" he growled.
"As you know, Harry and Voldemort have a very strong connection. I need you to teach Harry Occlumency, before Voldemort realizes that he can easily possess the boy," Dumbledore's voice was quiet.
Severus knew he couldn't refuse, not when it concerned Ha-Potter!
"Of course, Headmaster," he replied with an audible sigh, "but you're responsible for telling him, and I want our first lesson to be as soon as possible. Tomorrow evening at seven."
"Of course, Severus," Dumbledore replied, smiling kindly.
Severus scowled, and stalked away huffily. It was really going to be a long year now.
HPSSHPSSHPSSHPSS
"Harry, lad!" Dumbledore clapped his hands in delight and Harry turned around.
"Professor Dumbledore!" he exclaimed. It was good to see his Headmaster again.
"Harry, I must confess that I have some news that may be rather unpleasant for you," Dumbledore said.
Harry looked up at him, "Yes, sir?"
"You and Voldemort have a very strong connection. You know that right, Harry?"
"Yes sir," Harry replied.
"This year, starting tomorrow evening at seven o'clock, you'll be taking Occlumency."
"What's Occlumency, sir?" Harry asked.
"It's a way of blocking the mind from any uninvited intruders. Because of your connection with Voldemort it would be very easy for him to look into your mind and attempt to possess you. Let me make this very clear for you, Harry. This. Must. Not. Happen."
Harry nodded, "So, you'll be teaching me Occlumency?" he asked.
"Oh, no, Harry. You see, this is the unpleasant part. Professor Snape will be teaching you Occlumency."
Harry's face paled, "He's going to look into my mind?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so, Harry."
"Why? Why does he have to? Why can't you teach me?" Harry panicked. He couldn't let Severus find out that he had a major crush on him.
"Because, Harry, Severus is much more skillful at Occlumency then I ever will be," Dumbledore replied firmly.
"But, Professor, I-"
"Harry, remember what I said. Voldemort mustn't possess you. Ever. Do you understand?"
Harry knew he was being childish, but if Severus found out it'd just give him another reason to hate him.
He sighed, "Allright! I'll take the bloody Occlumency lessons. But I know I'm not going to like it."
"That's a good lad!" Dumbledore clapped a hand on his shoulder and then walked away with a bounce in his step.
"It's one of those times when I hate magic," Harry mumbled to himself, and began walking back toward the Gryffindor Common Room.
HPSSHPSSHPSSHPSS
Severus waited in his office. It was the next evening, and Ha-no, Potter was due for his Occlumency lesson any minute now.
There was a knock on the door.
"Enter," Severus looked up as Potter (he was pleased he'd gotten it right this time) entered the room.
"Hi, Professor Snape," he said.
"Mister Potter," Severus hissed in his smooth, silky, waspish voice, "I expect Dumbledore has told you about Occlumency?"
"A bit. He said it was like blocking your mind from intruders or something."
"Yes, that is the basic gist of it," Severus nodded, "Now, in these lessons I will attempt to penetrate your mind. You will attempt to resist me. Understand?"
Harry nodded, "Yes, sir," he replied.
Severus removed memories from his head. No sense in letting the boy find out anything.
"Prepare yourself, Mister Potter," he growled, "three…two…one..Legilimens!"
Image after image was racing through his mind like a flickering film so vivid it blinded him to his surroundings.
He was five, watching Dudley riding a new red bicycle, and his heart was bursting with jealousy.
He was nine, and Ripper the bulldog was chasing him up a tree, and the Dursleys were laughing below on the lawn.
He was sitting under the Sorting Hat, and it was telling him he would do well in Slytherin.
Hermione was lying in the hospital wing, her face covered with thick black hair.
A hundred dementors were closing in on him beside the dark lake.
Then the dreams of Severus began to come.
No, oh bloody hell no! GET OUT OF MY MIND!
He mentally pushed Severus out of his mind, but not before he'd seen Harry's recent dreams. Dreams of kissing him…holding him…loving him..
Harry's eyes flickered open. "Did you see everything I saw?" he asked desperately.
"Flashes of it," Severus replied softly. Neither his voice nor his face betrayed his true emotions.
"Let's try it again, shall we, Mister Potter?" Severus asked, raising an eyebrow.
Harry wanted to scream no, but instead he just nodded.
"Good. One...two...three...Legilimens!"
A great black dragon was rearing in front of him.
His mother and father were waving at him out of an enchanted mirror.
Cedric Diggory was lying on the ground with blank eyes staring at him.
"NO!" he screamed. Severus was out of his mind.
"Keep your mind focused! Concentrate! Severus hissed. "We're going again! One…two…three…Legilimens!"
He was watching Uncle Vernon hammering the letter box shut.
A hundred dementors were drifting across the lake in the grounds toward him.
Then, the dreams again.
"Stop looking at every memory! Some of them are private!" Harry snapped angrily.
"Well, why don't you tell that to the Dark Lord? I'm sure he'll understand!" Severus snarled. "Nothing is 'private' with the Dark Lord you foolish boy!"
Harry gave him a nasty glare, but bit his tongue. Severus was angry enough, best not to do anymore damage.
"I'm trying to help you, Potter!" Severus was practically shaking with anger. "Understand that I don't have to do this, but perhaps it never occurred to you that I actually care for your well-being?"
Harry looked away. He hated it that Severus was angry at him. "I'm not like my father, allright? I'm not like my mother either. I'm just myself, so stop comparing me to them why don't you?" Harry tried his hardest to blink the tears away, but he couldn't. The man was so damn hard to please.
Severus felt his anger wash away in an instant. He went closer to the boy. He knew he shouldn't be doing what he was fixing to do, but he didn't care at the moment. He knelt down and put a hand under Harry's chin, lifting it up gently.
"Look at me," he whispered softly, then he kissed Harry.
