I skipped dinner, too tense to eat, and went towards the potions room. I knocked forcefully, hopeful to appear more together than I really was.

"Enter…" came a murmur from inside the room.

I opened the door and walked in, witnessing a very worn-out Professor Snape.

"You're early," He stated, glancing at me, "It's only six-thirty."

"I know, I thought I should be early for this…in case."

He nodded, "Very well." He went and sat in his chair, directing me to the desk in front of his, "Enlighten me…what do you know about Occlumency?"

I consider the question for a second, "It's the act of preventing someone from accessing your feelings or thoughts; prohibiting them from persuading them."

"Very good Ms. Brennan," he smirked, "I'm certain you understand what Legilimency is?"

I nodded, "That's the act of attempting to get into someone's mind."

He smirked more, "Yes and it is my job to make certain you recognize how to identify when someone is attempting to interfere with your mind and how to keep them out."

"I already know I get migraines when someone seeks to come into my mind."

He glanced at the door and locked it before turning back to me, "Dumbledore thinks I should also teach you how to produce a false image in your mind. That way you can mislead someone into believing an event occurred when in reality it did not."

I smiled, "Seems fair enough. Sounds simple too-"

He glared, "I can assure you it is anything but simple. You must empty yourself of emotion. Fools who wear their hearts smugly on their sleeves, who cannot manage their feelings, stand no chance against his control! He will penetrate anyone's mind with ease. We cannot let him discover that you are not a devoted follower otherwise the consequences will be deadly."

I gulped, "I understand sir."

He stood, "I want you to stand in front of my desk, use it to support yourself because as soon as I begin you will be helpless and when I exit your mind you will be very lightheaded and require the desk's support."

I went and stood where he told me to as he magically repositioned the desks out of our way.

"On the count of three I will try to invade your mind. Ready?"

I nodded, consuming my fear."

"One… two… three!" he yelled, "Legilimens!"

I gasped as the sudden pain forced its way into my mind. I struggled, focusing firmly on keeping him out but it only lasted a few seconds.

I was in my room, playing with my dolls when there was a forceful shattering sound. Being so little curiosity got the best of me and I ran and opened my door. I spotted mommy on the floor, blood falling from her mouth. The glass table now in pieces; some attached to mommy's arms and legs. There were bruises all over her.

"You bastard," she cried.

"You deserve it your fucking cheating bitch," daddy screamed back.

"So much violence," whispered a voice from behind my younger self.

Next thing I knew we were back in the classroom. I was leaning on his desk, like he said I would be.

"That wasn't for you to witness, sir," I screamed, trying to catch my breath.

"If you would concentrate I wouldn't have seen it."

His intense face softened, "That wasn't the first time you witnessed them that way, was it?"

I glanced away, "I don't want to discuss it. I'm here for lessons; no therapy."

He became firm again, "Very well, again."

I stood straight and glared at him.

"Legilimens!"

I was in the bathroom, hiding in the bathtub.

I sat there, crying.

"No… he doesn't know I'm home yet," I answered to noone.

Silence.

"What do you imagine will happen? He'll freak!" I bawled, tears falling from my eyes.

"Who were you conversing with?" Snape requested, standing in the middle of the image.

I didn't respond, only tried to get him out before it was too late.

"He'll notice it! It's obvious!" I held out my arm, "You realize the blood gives it away?"

I caught a glimpse of surprise in Snape's eyes as he took in the scene; blood all in the white porcelain tub, blood dripping from my wrist, and razor blade in my right hand.

Next thing I knew I was back in the class room, shivering from both the vision and from loss of energy.

"Why did you-"

"It was nothing. Just disregard that and let's try again."

He placed his wand on the desk closest to him, "You require rest. We need to have a discussion about what I just observed."

I glared at him, "Nothing. To. Discuss."

He was furious now, "How can you advise me it's nothing to discuss when you were in a bloody tub with a razor!"

I whimpered, more from his sharp tone then the image, "I cannot answer right now. I just… it's too much. I swear you I am all right."

I saw him give in, "Very well. You realize I will have to inform Dumbledore about this?"

With those words my hard shell vanished and became bare. "Please don't notify him, if word gets out…"

"You will never master Occlumency this way. You must permit everything depart from inside you. If you talk about it you won't have anything holding you back. This will be what prevents you from blocking anyone out."

I didn't utter a word; just kept staring at the ground, worn-out and drained.

He walked over towards me as I plunged onto the floor; the desk supporting my back.

"Arianna please convey in me? I cannot assist if I don't understand what is going on?"

Arianna? What happened to Mrs. Brennan?

He kneeled in front of me, concern engraved on his face.

"Why do you want to help me? I'm potter's girl remember? You detest us."

He closed his eyes, thinking hard about his answer, "You are still my student and as your head of house I must protect you."

I felt a tear descend down my face, "When I'm ready I will let you know but not right now."

He nodded, "Very well. I will not inform Dumbledore as long as you promise me something?"

I swallowed, "And what would that be?"

He exhaled noisily, "Next time you undergo the call to…" He heisted, "Do something like this… approach me?"

I was stunned. Here was the one teacher I never got along with and never really liked standing up for me and yet he was actually… caring?

"Well Ms. Brennan?"

I let my breath out that I had held in apparently, "I promise."

SNAPE'S POV

"Legilimens!" I screamed, pushing into her mind. The first time she kept me out for a second or two but this time, however, it was directly into the vision.

Arianna was in a bathroom; in the bathtub, crying.

"No… he doesn't know I'm home yet," she answered the air.

'Who is she speaking to,' I wondered. 'There's no one in here but her."

Quiet was all that was heard for a few seconds.

"What do you imagine will happen? He'll freak!" she bawled, tears falling.

"Who were you conversing with?" I requested, getting nothing in reply.

"He'll notice it! It's obvious!" she held out my arm, "You realize the blood gives it away?"

Nothing had equipped me for what I was witnessing. I was in shock at all the blood on the white porcelain tub, blood dripping from her wrist, and a razor in her trembling hand.

I brought us back to the class room, astonished by the vision I knew I would have difficulty getting out of my mind.

"Why did you-" I began, being disrupted by her whimper.

"It was nothing. Just disregard that and let's try again."

I dropped my wand on the closest desk, "You require rest. We need to have a discussion about what I just observed."

She glared, "Nothing. To. Discuss."

I was fuming now, "How can you advise me it's nothing to discuss when you were in a bloody tub with a razor!"

She continued to whimper, "I cannot answer right now. I just… it's too much. I swear you I am all right."

I wanted to argue but a different thought came to me.

Give her time to trustyou. She needstime.

So I submitted my thought, "Very well. You realize I will have to inform Dumbledore about this?"

With those words I saw her firm shell disappear.

"Please don't notify him, if word gets out…"

"You will never master Occlumency this way. You must permit everything depart from inside you. If you talk about it you won't have anytihng holding you back. This will be what prevents you from blocking anyone out." I advised her.

She didn't utter a word; just kept staring at the ground, worn-out and drained. She was so vulnerable at that moment.

I walked over towards her as she descended onto the floor; the desk supporting her.

"Arianna please convey in me? I cannot assist if I don't understand what is going on?"

Did I just call a student by their first name?

I ignored this and kneeled in front of her, worried.

She needs to feel like we are equal. No Ms. Brennan just Arianna.

"Why do you want to help me? I'm potter's girl remember? You detest us."

Because I give Dumbledore my word …

I closed my eyes, contemplating on another way to answer, "You are still my student and as your head of house I must protect you."

"When I'm ready I will let you know but not right now."

I gave her a quick nod, "Very well. I will not inform Dumbledore as long as you promise me something?"

She swallowed loudly, "And what would that be?"

I exhaled noisily, "Next time you undergo the call to…" I paused, thinking of how to say the words, "Do something like this… approach me?"

She sat there, watching at me like she hadn't anticipated these words from me, and I must confess I was shocked at what I was uttering myself. I knew I should march her directly to Dumbledore's office but I just couldn't urge myself to.

After a minute of silence I inquired, "Well Ms. Brennan?"

She sighed, "I promise."