A/N: I know I took long but I'm back with the longest chapter yet. Thanks for all those who reviewed and the excellent ideas that you give. I'm going to implement some of them. Enough of that, Enjoy the chapter!
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Occlumency
Harry carefully stepped out of his compartment when someone bumped into him. He was on his way back from the holidays. "What the hell are you doing here?" Harry looked into the confused face of none other than John Potter.
"None of your business!" Harry shoved past him and made his way out. He missed the smirking face of John Potter though. Like John had something up his sleeve. But Harry found out soon enough, the next morning in fact.
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"HARRY JAMES POTTER!" Lily's voice rang through the hall at breakfast. Harry cowered away from the howler. The whole school was watching. "How dare you go away on your own to someplace without telling us? You could've been killed! We will have a talk about this!" The letter burst into flames.
Harry looked up to see Snape making his way towards him. "Headmaster's Office Mr. Potter, it seems your parents…" Snape's lips curled "..are here."
Grudgingly Harry followed Snape to Dumbledore's Office. "Don't look the headmaster in the eye." With that, Snape left him. Harry didn't have much time to ponder over it as the doors were opened and Harry was greeted by the sight of his infuriated parents.
Harry's mother gathered him up in a hug. When she separated, she gave him a small jerk. "Where were you?" She asked with warning in her tone. Harry smiled, "I was under the impression that you didn't care."
"Of course we care! We're your parents, aren't we?" James asked angrily. "Did you know how much worried your mother and I were last night?"
"Well, it was foolish of you guys to worry seeing as I had already returned." Harry answered which infuriated James even more but Dumbledore intervened here.
"Harry, please, I would like to know where you were during the holidays," Blue eyes twinkling and staring straight at Harry.
Harry avoided direct contact with Dumbledore's eyes, "I DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW! I HAVE HAD ENOUGH" Harry turned towards his parents. "YOU PRACTICALLY WORSHIP JOHN AND NEGLECT ME. AND NOW THAT I GO TO VISIT SOME FRIENDS, YOU'RE THE FIRST TO QUESTION ME. SO SHUT UP!"
Harry calmed his rising temper. At this rate, he'd no sooner take out his dagger and stab the lot of them. Before he would say anything he'd regret in the future, Harry immediately made his way out.
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Dumbledore stared pointedly at the shocked parents. "I don't think we should call him back again. Let him settle his anger and maybe over the summer, you can ask him where he went."
"Yes, thankyou for the suggestion Albus, we'll go with it", said Lily, standing up. James was shaking his head, "Was it my failing as a father?" But Lily immediately shook her head. "Don't be silly James, look at the bright boy John that we raised, even if Harry is a little angry, he'll grow out of it eventually." Both Albus and James nodded their heads.
"I think he has already grown out of it and seen the fools that are his parents, Potter", Came a voice from the door. James, enraged, turned to see a smirking Severus Snape standing in the doorway. "No one asked you Snivellus" James snarled.
"Come on hon, let's go see John before going home." Lily said, turning to the doorway. James reluctantly nodded and followed, still staring hard at Snape.
"Oh and remind your imbecile of a son that he has detention with me tonight, Potter. And I mean the foolish Gryffindor one". Snape's voice could be heard even as James descended the staircase.
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Harry twirled the dart in his fingers. Imbued in the dart was a mild Itching potion. Another dart with the cure was safely tucked in his pocket. He didn't want to cure his target so soon. But sadly, he would have to, because he needed to check how the darts worked. The target had chosen himself ofcourse, Harry would go as far as to say that the target had volunteered.
Harry smirked as he stood hidden in the shadows. Malfoy wouldn't know what hit him, and after how he cursed Harry at breakfast, he deserved it. Just as Malfoy rounded the corner, the dart was out of his hand.
Malfoy bended down to see what had bitten on his leg. Harry couldn't throw a dart fast enough to cause any real damage on its own, but at least it had pierced the skin, which was the intended effect. Very soon Malfoy was itching all over, the thing that had bitten his leg now out of his mind as he tried to scratch his back.
Unfortunately for Harry, Snape came around the corner to find Malfoy like that. Speaking the countercurse, Snape looked around and his gaze fixed on Harry. Harry cursed himself for forgetting to use the invisibility cloak.
As soon as their gazes met, Harry found the whole incident flashing in front of his eyes. When Snape broke off, Harry had the feeling that Snape had also seen what he had. Harry stored that thought for later as he turned to face the matter at hand.
Harry saw a look of amusement in Snape's eyes. "Well well well Mr. Potter, you certainly seemed to have found a way to curse your fellow students."
Harry gave a sigh of releif, but Snape turned serious that moment. "Next time make sure it isn't a Slytherin, and as punishment for that, you have detention with Mr.Filch at eight o clock tonight." With that Snape was off, his robes billowing behind him.
Oh well, you can't get away with cursing a slytherin in front of Snape, can you? Harry thought.
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Snape sat in his private quarters contemplating on what he had seen today. If this wasn't proof of the boy's slytherin nature then he didn't know what was. Harry Potter, and what an enigma he was. Certainly nothing like his father or that dumb brother of his. The only failing that he could see was that the boy was a squib.
He thought about reporting the incident to Dumbledore but then thought better of it. It was a dangerous business throwing darts at people, but he would cover up for Harry Potter for now. The boy was using potions in such an innovative way. His talent for potions was unquestionable. The only question now was, should he actively take any steps for the boy's progress?
An Apprentice has a nice ring to it, but not so soon thought Snape. He needed to check out some things first so he headed off towards his personal library. Not to mention it would piss James Potter.
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Harry cautiously opened the door to Filch's office. This would be the first time he would meet Filch on a personal basis and from what he had heard, Filch's detentions were the worst.
"Needn't be 'fraid Potter. You're one of us." Filch's voice rang through the room.
"What do you mean?"Harry asked. "You like me, are a squib." From those words on Harry found himself conversing with Filch for the rest of the hour. This certainly seemed like the start of a friendship. It would also be beneficial, thought his Slytherin side. Filch told him of his hatred of Wizards due to their proud attitudes, but his love of magic. Filch told him that most squibs integrated into the muggle world, but he, like Harry, couldn't leave all this behind. But most of all, Filch told him of the hardships that a squib faced in the magical world, the discriminating laws and their inability to find a job even in things that squibs could actually do.
After the hour was up, Filch looked at his watch. "Come, it's time we met some members of the Brotherhood." Filch declared as he got up.
"Isn't time for the detention over? What's the Brotherhood? And where are we going?" Harry asked all at once.
"Yes time is over but no one would question me if I kept you up till midnight, I have a reputation after all. The Brotherhood is a secret organisation of Squibs and other magical creatures but it's complicated and I can't explain and as for where we're going, we're going to the forbidden forest."
Harry followed Filch out of the school, through the grounds and into the forbidden forest. Harry had questioned Filch on the 'Brotherhood' but it seemed that even Filch didn't know much.
After a long walk, they came to a clearing where two men in brown cloaks and a man in a black cloak, stood. "Leave us for a moment, Argus" The one in the center, the black one, which Harry guessed to be the leader, spoke.
Filch bowed before leaving. In that time, Harry observed them. The black one had a sword on his back and his face was completely blocked by the shadow of his hood. The brown ones had their hoods off, and Harry could clearly make out two rugged but still handsome faces. Their eyes were alert and searching everywhere for any impending danger.
After a moment the man in the black cloak stepped forward. The moonlight allowed Harry to now see the lower half of the man's face. He looked old from what Harry could see.
"Hello Harry, we have heard reports from Argus about you. At first, we did not want to, seeing as you were a Hogwarts student and brother of John Potter but now we have been convinced otherwise." The man said.
"I don't understand." Harry couldn't make head, nor tail of it.
"Do not worry Harry, in time you will. We know of the hardships that you face and we promise you Harry that it will stop soon. As soon as you learn what I am about to tell you to learn." The man waited until Harry nodded before continuing.
"You are to learn an art called Occlumency, it is the act of guarding the mind and keeping your secrets safe from invasions." Harry mentally reviewed seeing Snape stare at him straight in the eye and he understood, Snape had read his mind. Harry nodded, now getting why Occlumency was necessary. The man pulled a book out of his cloak and handed it to Harry.
Harry looked at the book that was simply titled 'Occlumency'. He flipped it open to find the pages smooth and printed like muggle books. "Muggle printing?" Harry questioned.
Harry could see the man's lips twitch. "….All in good time Harry….all in good time." The man motioned for his two partners (or body guards probably?) to come closer. When they were close enough he turned towards Harry. "Inform Argus when you are done." With that all three men vanished in a burst of black smoke that dissipated into the air in moments.
Harry heard Filch coming and was soon headed back towards the castle. The journey passed in silence as Harry contemplated what had happened.
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Harry sat alone in a secluded part of the library. He had gone over all the theory behind occlumency that the book provided. It had been a month since he had gotten the book. He was now mentally prepared for the practical part.
Harry heard a clock strike midnight, the gong resonating in the library. He needed absolute silence for the first part of the task. Harry started to concentrate and soon the gong from the wall clock though sounding was no longer heard by the conscious part of his brain.
All of his senses were now being transferred to his subconscious to handle and his conscious was prepared for the task at hand. Harry felt a pull and soon he was in his own mind, a void of darkness with memories floating randomly looking like bubbles. This was the dangerous part. Concentrating more, he felt a pull at his magical core. If he had seen his physical state, it was profusely sweating. Harry pulled and pulled but his magical core didn't seem to be able to do what needed to be done. Gathering up his effort again, he tried once again, this time he tried to pull at his magical core with even greater concentration.
Through utter concentration, he finally felt his core give. Suddenly threads of light penetrated the void of darkness in his mind. Finally, his part done, he couldn't hold his concentration any longer, he let go of everything. Now that his magical core had been linked to his mind, it would stay linked.
Harry gave a huge gasp as his senses returned to his conscious. Already tired from the ordeal, Harry slipped unconscious.
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Harry lay on his back staring at the starry night. It was two months after his first practical experience with occlumency. He had steered clear of both Snape's and Dumbledore's (as he assumed what Snape had meant by not looking him in the eye) eyes so they wouldn't try legilimency on him. During the second stage of Occlumency, legilimency was very counter-productive.
This stage included going through his previous memories and making them stationary with the help of his magical core. You could arrange the memories in any pattern that you liked and the book gave several different patterns to choose from but Harry decided to make his own. He arranged his memories in the pattern of a spider web with the most important at the center. He used the threads from his magical core to link the memories.
Tonight was the final day of his arranging his memories. After that, the memories would collect around his pattern in the same way that he had defined his pattern. Then he would only need to do this to secure important memories closer to the center. Harry placed the final memory into place and then let go and came back to consciousness.
Now came the third and final part of the occlumency exercise. This part included building defenses and practicing against a legilimens. After making basic shields, he thought he would report to the brotherhood. But he wanted to test his shields against Snape first.
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For the next couple of months, Harry often stared at Snape in the eyes and as soon as he felt his shields starting to break, he broke eye contact. He knew he risked Snape finding about the brotherhood but hopefully Snape would just think that he figured legilimency was being used on him and started practicing occlumency.
And so it continued. Snape was playing along for now and as long as Harry was getting his shields improved, who was he to complain? Besides the Occlumency thing, Harry was still doing amazingly in all of his classes. He had also tried more dart experiments and all of them seemed to have been working perfectly. He still had to hide it though and after a strike, and the effects observed, he would knock the person unconscious and remove his dart.
Snape was probably the only person who could have pointed to Harry after students found themselves in the hospital randomly but he had not and for that, Harry was thankful. In order to effectively throw darts and not been seen, Harry had been forced to improve his abilities to remain unnoticed. He could now successfully move through halls without being seen. This also had the fortunate side-effect of not being cursed as much.
John had been involved in his own things and had ignored Harry completely. The quidditch matches had gone flawlessly and Harry had won every single match for Slytherin. For that alone, he now had an almost curse-free pass from his own house mates……almost.
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It was finally the second last day at Hogwarts. They were going to board the Hogwarts express the next morning. Harry had planned to meet the brotherhood that night, after the End of Term feast. He had already told Filch and the brotherhood had been informed.
Harry was called to Snape's office fifteen minutes before the feast. Entering after being permitted, Harry was ordered to sit.
"Hello Harry" Snape started, Harry was perturbed by the use of his first name and from Snape nonetheless.
"I have observed your excellent potion making skills throughout the year. Not to mention your use of darts." Snape continued. "I have seen you show skills beyond any of the students here, matched and surpassing my own at your age." Harry's heart swelled with the unexpected praise and coming from Snape, this really was something.
"I will get straight to the point Harry, I want you to become my apprentice." Snape finally said with a sigh.
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Harry entered the great hall still in a stunned state. Snape had offered him apprenticeship, given him a book on the different types of apprenticeships and asked him to consider it during the summer holidays. Snape expected an answer from him on the first day of his second year. Hell Snape had even given Harry the choice for the type of apprenticeship he wanted.
Still in a daze, Harry went through dinner. Shaking his head, Harry cleared his and using occlumency techniques perfected from practice, he was finally able to clear his mind of all emotions and think logically. He would need that for the upcoming meeting.
Dumbledore stood up when the feast was finished. "It seems that Slytherin are leading on the house points. But I would like to announce some final points." Dumbledore went on to announce hundreds of house points to Gryffindor's like John, Weasley and Granger for being intelligent, playing chess and showing bravery.
Naturally the whole Slytherin house was outraged and even Harry couldn't contain his anger. All of his points from potions and quidditch…..for nothing! But Harry couldn't let this go on, he jumped on top of his table.
"I think it is time for…." But Dumbledore was cut off as Harry started speaking. "It doesn't matter what you think! According to "The Hogwarts' Code", the term ends as soon as the foot for the end of term feast disappears! Even with Headmaster privileges, you are not allowed to change house points now."
The Slytherin cheers started as Dumbledore finally accepted and awarded the Slytherin house with the cup. Harry saw a genuine smile from Snape and felt a moment of euphoria that was instantly quashed by his instinctual occlumency training. He could feel no emotions.
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Harry found himself in a similar situation as before, as standing before him was the man in black cloak and around him were the people in brown cloaks.
The man finally lowered his head and Harry could see that he was old indeed. The man stared at Harry for a moment before Harry felt a strong attack on his mind. Once again Occlumency instincts didn't even need to be prepared as they started battling the invasion even before Harry was ready. Though the invasion was strong, Harry was able to push it out after it penetrated his first layer. He had seven layers in total, seven being the magical number.
The man smiled as Harry recomposed himself after successfully throwing off the attack. The man extended his hand towards Harry, "Hello Harry Potter, my name is Gellert Grindelwald………………….former Dark Lord."
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A/N: Yeah I know a cliffy but it just came to me and it was inevitable. The next update won't take as much time as long as you people keep reviewing. So KEEP REVIEWING!
Oh and I needed to ask a question : SHOULD I or shouldn't I add a larger involvement of Werewolves or Vampires or both in this. The story would still go according to plan either way. Though it will be a little darker with their involvement.
