First Occlumency Lesson

"Class dismissed," stated Snape as he sat at his desk. His eyes watched as the young Gryffindor slowly walked towards the door to join his other friends. He knew he had to time it just right to make the bane of his existence think he was free. It was his favorite pastime, after all. The exact second the messy haired boy stepped out of the doorway, Snape loudly said, "Except you, Potter." He nearly chuckled when he heard the loud groan.

"Yes, sir," Harry replied as he walked back in slowly. With a flick of the wrist, the door behind Harry slammed shut. He then sighed before he stood in front of Snape's desk.

"Our lesson tonight will have to be postponed until midnight, Potter."

"What! But, sir—"

"Potter, what makes you think I care what your complaint is?" Snape watched the anger settle in behind the boy's eyes. "I should think you would like the opportunity to sneak about the castle so late at night, Potter. Am I wrong?"

"Fine, sir, I'll be there," Harry said through grit teeth. "Is there anything else or can I go?"

"If you must, Potter," Snape drawled. "After all, I just absolutely love our time together."

"I bet you do," Harry muttered under his breath.

"Very well, since you are acting like a jealous teenager, I will inform you."

"What!" Harry shrieked. "I'm not jealous!"

"I have an engagement with Professor Sinistra that I cannot miss, Potter." Snape saw the discomfort in Harry instantly, which made him nearly laugh. "You see, Harry, I am currently courting Aurora, and I said some rather dumb things this morning that I must make up for. You understand why I can't be there until later, right, Harry?"

"Yes, can I go now, sir?" Harry replied as he gritted his teeth even more.

"Tell me, Potter. I hear you have experience in this sort of thing. After all, I am sure the savior of the Wizarding world has had at least a half dozen girls flocking to him. What do you get a woman that you've hurt so horribly?"

"I don't know, sir. Can I please go now?"

"Surely, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley must have informed you during your discussion in my class earlier about what to get Miss Chang?" Snape watched the blush creep across the young man's face.

"I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again," Harry grounded out.

"See that it doesn't, Mr. Potter," Snape replied silkily. "However, that does not answer my previous question. What do you believe I should get Professor Sinistra to make up for my callous words?" He watched the boy's shoulders slump.

"I don't know. Get her flowers or something. Please, Professor Snape, can I go?"

"Why, Mr. Potter, I hope I'm not making you uncomfortable. I sincerely apologize for that."

"Fine…fine, I'll play your sick little twisted game, Snape," Harry finally snapped. "She likes Astronomy, so get her something that deals with that. Maybe a star necklace or something," he said. "Or she might like it if you made some sort of potion for her. As long as it's from the heart, I doubt she'll care what it is."

"Ah…the great Harry Potter is a romantic. I wonder what Witch Weekly would say about that."

"Can I please leave now, Professor?"

"No."

"Why? I've played your stupid little game. Now let me leave."

"Not until you learn to control your temper, Harry." Snape noticed the boy's green eyes dart towards him. "Yes, I've noticed that also, Potter. There is no need for you to stare at me like an idiot. I will admit that there are certain…differences between you and father."

"Oh, just realized that now, did you?"

"Well, for one, your father never would have been uncomfortable with my discussion. He would have used my words to incite some sort of joke of his."

"What makes you think I won't, Snape?"

"Because you are more like your mother than James, Harry," he replied quietly. He nearly chuckled when he saw Harry's mouth drop.

"It really changed you, didn't it? I mean, Hermione and I were talking about it last night, but…"

"Were you now," Snape drawled. "And what does Miss Granger have to say?"

"Well, we all noticed that you finally washed your hair for once." Harry then softly scoffed when Snape only raised an eyebrow. "Professor Sinistra couldn't stand it, could she?"

"No. As I am sure if you asked Miss Granger, she would inform you that working with potions—Merlin, what am I doing explaining this to you of all people, Potter?"

"I don't know, but I think that we're bonding, Snape," Harry replied with a huge grin.

"Yes, well, kill me now, Potter." Snape then sighed before he ran a hand through his long black hair. He glanced back at Harry. "If you must know, though, I am not under as much stress as I was before, which has helped. I also am not in front of a caldron twenty-four seven anymore. It had nothing to do with Aurora or me washing my hair for the first time as you so kindly mentioned."

"Oh." Harry then sighed. "Why aren't you brewing? Shouldn't you have lots of time now?"

"You would think. However, between training you and spending time with Aurora, my time is not as free as one would think."

"Um…Snape, you know how you told me to tell you about my dreams."

"Yes," Snape softly hissed. "What of it, Potter?"

"Well, I…I dreamt something last night."

"Mr. Potter, I believe I told you—"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, but it's a repeat dream, though. I had it over the summer."

"Very well, what did this dream entail?"

"Well, I can't be sure, but I think it was…um…well, I think it was Professor Sinistra, sir."

"Continue," Snape hissed.

"Bellatrix brought her before Voldemort. He seemed…well, happy to see Professor Sinistra captured. There was another guy with him, though, but I don't think he was a Death Eater. At least, I didn't see the Dark Mark on his arm." Harry then glanced at Snape. "The other guy…well…it was like Voldemort took orders from him. That can't be true, though, right? I mean, Voldemort would never let somebody else give him orders."

"I did not realize you had such insight into the Dark Lord's mind, Potter," Snape drawled. He sighed heavily before he glanced back at the young Gryffindor. "I take it there was more than that to this dream of yours?"

"Yes, sir," Harry replied sullenly. "Before he…" Harry's voice faltered.

"He killed her?" Snape watched Harry slowly nod. He quickly drew in a deep breath. "Do not concern yourself over that. I assure you that Aurora is not in any more danger than that of your friends."

"But she's an Order member, isn't she?" Harry instantly caught Snape stiffen.

"Yes," Snape softly hissed. "Your point is what, Potter?"

"Well, doesn't that mean Dumbledore sends her on assignments from time to time?"

"What the Headmaster does or doesn't do concerning the Order does not concern you in the slightest. Cast it out of your mind at once, Potter."

"Yeah, well, how the hell am I supposed to do that, Snape? I mean, have you ever dreamt some maniacal wizard tortured your Astronomy professor?" Harry snapped. His breathing soon turned to panting as he glared.

"I assure you, Potter, that Aurora is perfectly safe," Snape replied in a deathly quiet voice.

"I watched her die, Snape!" Harry yelled. He then angrily shook his head. "It wasn't just that, though. No. No. That wasn't good enough for him. Voldemort made me torture and kill her!" Harry's body shook as the emotions threatened to take over again. "Tell me, Snape. How do you not think about watching someone you know be tortured and murdered right in front of you? Tell me!"

"You don't," Snape responded softly. "However, Potter, I will not allow anything to happen to her. That is why I wish for you to cast it out of your mind. For five years, I've protected you from the Dark Lord, Potter. I surely can do the same for Aurora. However, if it will make you feel better, I have already ensured that she will not be going on any more missions for the Headmaster."

"Why?"

"Because like you, Harry, I too am concerned that something could occur on one of those missions. I do not wish to risk it anymore than you do."

"So—"

"I have, as Muggles would put it, grounded her, Mr. Potter. Aurora Sinistra will not be leaving Hogwarts castle anytime soon. That is certain."

"Sir," Harry said with a soft thin smile. "I don't think she'll like that very much."

"Perhaps not, but if it ensures her safety, then I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe."

"You really love her, don't you?"

"What do you think, Harry?" Snape then inhaled deeply. "Perhaps we should start with your Occlumency lessons now."

"Sir…?"

"That is unless you wish to continue to watch people die, Potter," Snape asked sarcastically.

"Yeah, but shouldn't you be…getting ready or something?" Harry watched his potions professor roll his eyes at him.

"Mr. Potter, I have five hours before my date. Surely, in that time, I can teach you something. That is unless you show your usual effort. However, we both know that won't occur. I believe I have time." Snape then briskly walked past Harry towards his office. He heard the soft footfalls behind him. As soon as Harry was in his office, Snape closed the door with a flick of his wrist. "Shall we begin?"

"Yeah, sure, sir," Harry muttered.

"Occlumency is a difficult discipline to learn because it relies on your ability to control your emotions and mind at the same time. You cannot fully comprehend it through just mere reading as you can with such asinine disciplines as…Astronomy." Snape caught Harry's soft smirk instantly. "And if you even think about telling Sinistra what I just said, you will learn the real meaning of pain. Is that understood?" Harry slowly nodded. "As I said before, reading about it will not help you. You must learn through practicum." Snape then ran his hand through his long raven hair. "Which means that I will have to be the unfortunate soul that must relive your horrid memories, Potter."

"But…"

"Yes, well, it is not something that I am thrilled to partake in either, Potter. However, Occlumency is about defending your mind from someone else's attacks against yours. It is a mental discipline. Therefore, when I attack your mind, it will be to make you relive memories particularly memories that have a great deal of emotion behind them. Those types of memories are ones that make you vulnerable to the Dark Lord's attacks. He will use those memories to his advantage."

"So when we're doing this, you're going to be able to see my memories?"

"Yes."

"But this will make the dreams stop?"

"As far as I know, it will." Snape watched the fear in the young wizard's eyes. "However, if you effectively block me, then I should not have to view any of your memories, Potter. Your secrets then will be perfectly safe."

"I don't have any secrets, Professor."

"Oh, please," drawled Snape. "We all have secrets, Harry. You'd be a fool if you believed otherwise." He then drew in a deep breath. "Are you ready?"

"Sir, how am I supposed to block you, though? You haven't taught me that."

"Mr. Potter, do you want me in your memories?"

"Well, no."

"Then I should think it is fairly obvious how you will get me out of your head." Snape watched the confusion settle into the green eyes. He sighed heavily. "If the Dark Lord attacked you this minute, what would you do?"

"Duel him," Harry replied instantly.

"Yes, well, think of it as a duel, Potter. When a memory starts, use your mind to push me out."

"What if that doesn't work?"

"Then I'll know all of your dirty little secrets, won't I, Harry?" Snape noticed the young man gulp, which nearly made him chuckle. "Ready?" Harry nodded. "Legilimens," Snape said.