Disclaimer: Listen up! The disclaimer is a bit different this chapter; not only do I not own Harry Potter, but I also do not own Alex Ratcliff who, indeed, belongs to the user Silvermoony77, so don't think I made her up myself! (:
The receptionist area was covered with red and cold crystal orbs that reminded Levina of Gryffindor. There were Christmas baubles, holly hanging in the doorways, and shining Christmas trees covered in magical snow and icicles.
"This is a really nice place," said Destiny as she gazed up at the decorations. She, Lupin, Moody, Uncle Nick, and Eric had accompanied them on their trip to see Mr. Weasley.
"You said there is indeed a Werewolf here today, am I correct?" said Lupin to Mrs. Weasley. "In Arthur's ward?"
Mrs. Weasley nodded, keeping her lips shut firmly together in a kind effort to not say anything insulting in front of neither he nor Levina. When they entered the ward, they found Mr. Weasley sitting upright with a copy of the Daily Prophet, looking in very good shape as he beamed at them all.
"Oh, Levina, this is incredible!" said Mr. Weasley, who had unwrapped Levina's gift to find a small Cd player with headphones. "This is so strange...tell me, how does it work?"
"Arthur," said Mrs. Weasley, who was peering at his bandaging, "I thought they said your bandages wouldn't be changed until tomorrow?"
"What?" said Mr. Weasley, pulling the covers up to his chest. "No-it's nothing-just...um...I mean, there are some old Muggle remedies...well, they're called stitches, and they work really well on-on Muggle wounds-"
"I fancy a cup of tea," said Harry, jumping to his feet.
"That sounds good," said Levina, sensing the tension between the two. Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Desriny sprinted to the door just in time, leaving Eric and Lupin inside as Mr. Weasley began to try explaining himself. As the door closed, they could hear Mrs. Weasley shriek, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, THAT'S THE GENERAL IDEA?"
"I wonder where the tea room is?" said Hermione.
"The fifth floor," said Levina, and they set off down the corridor through a set of double doors and found a rickety staircase lined with portraits of brutal-looking Healers. As they climbed it, the various Healers called out to them, suggesting horrible remedies for supposed diseases. Only when one of them announced that Ron had spattergroit did they say anything to them back.
"And what's that supposed to be?" said Ron, affronted.
"'Tis a most grievous affliction of the skin that will leave you pockmarked and even more gruesome than you are now-"
"Watch who you're calling gruesome," said Levina in his defense. "And Ron's not got spattergroit or whatever you-"
"But the unsightly blemishes upon your visage, young master-"
"They're freckles!" said Ron furiously. "Go back to your own picutre and leave me alone!"
"What floor is this?" said Destiny.
Levina glanced over her shoulder. "I think it's the fourth, we need to go one more-"
But as they stepped onto the landing, she came to an abrupt halt, for behind a set of double doors marked 'Spell Damage,' there was a man peering out at the with his nose pressed against the glass. He had wavy blond hair, bright blue eyes, and a broad vacant smile that revealed dazzlingly white teeth.
"Blimey!" said Ron, staring at him.
"No way," said Levina, frowning at the man with wide eyes. "Is that-?"
"Oh my goodness!" said Hermione, sounding breathless."It's Professor Lockhart!"
"Who?" said Destiny, but Lockhart had pushed the door open and was moving towards them, dressed in a long lilac gown.
"Well, hello there!" he said. "I expect you'd like my autograph, wouldn't you?"
"Hasn't changed much, has he?" Harry muttered, and Levina grinned.
"Er-how are you, Professor?" said Ron, sounding slightly guilty; it had been his wand that had damaged Lockhart's memory and sent him to the hospital in the first place.
"I'm very well indeed!" said Lockhart. "Now, how many autographs would you like? I can do joined-up writing, you know!"
"Not now, thanks," said Levina, exchanging a grin with Ginny.
"Shouldn't you be in a ward?" said Ron.
The smile faded slowly from Lockhart's face and he gazed intently at Levina. After a moment, he said, "Have we met?"
"Uh, yeah," said Levina. "You used to teach the Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts."
"Teach?" said Lockhart. "Me? Did I?" The smile returned to his face. "Taught you everything I know, I expect, did I? Well, how about those autographs, then? Shall we say a round dozen, you can give them to all your little friends then and no one will be left out!"
But at that moment, a kind-looking Healer wearing a tinsel wreath in her hair came bustling up the corridor, smiling warmly at them. "Oh Gilderoy, you've got visitors! How lovely, and on Christmas Day too! Do you know, he never gets visitors, poor little lamb, and I can't think why, he's such a sweetie, aren't you?"
"We're doing autographs!" said Gilderoy with a glittering smile. "They want loads of them and won't take no for an answer!"
"He was rather well known a few years ago, so we hope this liking for autographs is a sign he may be getting a bit of his memory back," said the witch happily. "Will you step this way? He's in a closed ward, he must have slipped out...But he's a bit of a danger to himself, he gets lost easy. It's so nice to have you come to see him-"
"Er," said Ron, "actually, we're-"
But the Healer brought them all into the ward, Destiny looking the most bemused. The room was filled with armchairs and various beds with pictures or plants behind them, some being personal effects. Lockhart had dozens of photos of himself on the wall behind his headboard, all signed in his childish handwriting.
As Gilderoy began furiously scribbling autographs down, Levina glanced around the room at the various people: A witch who had a rather furry face and was barking like a dog, a mumbling man, and-Neville.
"Neville?" said Levina in surprise. What was he doing there?
"Hey, Neville!" said Ron loudly, waving to him brightly. "It's us! Have you seen? Lockhart's here! Who've you been visiting?"
Neville jumped and cowered as though someone had hit him. His face went a dull purple color and he turned his eyes away from them, looking as though he'd like to be anywhere but here.
"Ah, I know you two," said Neville's grandmother, who was wearing a long green dress and a pointed hat with a stuffed vulture. She reached out to shake Leivna and Harry's hands. "Neville speaks most highly of you two. And you must be Weasleys..."
She greeted Ron, Ginny, and Hermione, then turned to face Destiny and Eric, who looked very out of place. "And you two are...?"
"Destiny Snowpetal, or Levesque," said Destiny, reaching out to shake her hand. "Weren't you at the Yule Ball last year?" she added to Neville, who flushed a bright red and nodded slightly.
"I hear you've helped Neville out of some tight situations," said Mrs. Longbottom to Hermione. "He hasn't got his father's talent, I'm afraid to say..." She jerked her head in the direction of the man lying in one of the beds at the end of the ward.
"What?" said Ron. "Is that your dad, Neville?"
Then it hit Levina: Neville's parents, who had been tortured into insanity, were in the ward with them. If there were ever a person she could feel more pity for then, it would have to be him.
"What's this?" said Mrs. Longbottom. "Haven't you told your friends about your parents, Neville?"
Neville sucked in a deep breath and shook his head.
"Well, it's nothing to be ashamed of!" said Mrs. Longbottom angrily. "You should be proud! My son and his wife," she said to them, "were tortured to insanity by You-Know-Who's followers."
Hermione and Ginny clapped their hands to their mouths in horror, but Levina merely shook her head. Destiny, on the other hand, looked incredibly uncomfortable. Ron stopped trying to get a look at Neville's dad and looked mortified.
"They were Aurors, highly gifted, the pair of them. I-yes, Alice dear, what is it?"
Neville's mother had come edging down the ward in her nightdress. She looked very thin and her hair was wipsy, white, and dead-looking. Her eyes were dull and she did not speak, but she made timid motions at Neville, holding something in her outstretched hand for him to take.
"Again?" said Mrs. Lonbottom. "Very well, Alice, dear. Neville, take it, whatever it is..."
Neville stretched his own hand out and his mother dropped an empty Droobles Blowing Gum Wrapper into it. Levina had never seen a more sad sight.
"Thanks Mum," Neville said quietly. He looked back at them with a defiant expression as his mother walked off, as though he were daring them to laugh.
"It was very nice to have met you all," said Mrs. Longbottom, and she and Neville headed back out through the doorway. As they left, Levina saw Neville slip the wrapper into his pocket.
"I never knew," said Hermione when the door closed, looking on the verge of tears.
"Nor did I," said Ron hoarsley.
"We did," said Harry, gesturing to himself and Levina, "but Dumbledore had us swear not to say anything...it's one of the things Bellatrix Lestrange was sent to Azkaban for-
Destiny made a strangled coughing noise and gasped slightly, looking petrified.
"What?" said Ron, and Levina elbowed him hard in the ribs.
"No, it's fine, Levina," said Destiny, who had tears welling up in her brilliant icy eyes. "My mother, Celeste Levesque, was tortured to death by Bellatrix Lestrange."
"What?" said Hermione, Ron, and Ginny together.
"Did I not tell you that?" said Levina, frowning.
"Yes, well," Destiny mumbled, wiping her eyes on her sleeve, "I didn't know her that well, but...Bellatrix wanted to get information out of her about Levina's whereabouts, but she didn't give in."
Levina stared at her, eyebrows raised. She was the reason Celeste was dead? Because Bellatrix tried to have her spill secrets about Levina? The thought made her stomach churn.
There was a long silence, and Lockhart said angrily, "Look, I didn't learn joined-up writing for nothing, you know!"
...
On the very last day of the holidays, Levina sat across from Destiny in Ron's bedroom, playing Exploding Snap while discussing her encounter with Draco in the prefect bathroom. Ron and Harry were sitting beside them in the middle of a game of Wizard's chess while Ginny and Hermione watched from the bed.
Destiny was in a fit of hysterical giggles by the end of her story. "That's hilarious!"
"It's not funny!" Levina snapped as she stroked Lilypad in her lap, flipping the cards over. "Your turn."
Destiny reached out and tapped the card late with her wand, earning a small explosion that nearly singed her shirt cuff.
There was a sudden knock on the door and Mrs. Weasley poked her head in just as one of Harry's castles wrestled violently with Ron's pawn.
"Harry dear, Levina," she said as there was another explosion and Destiny cheered, "could you come down to the kitchen? Professor Snape would like a word with you."
"Yeah, cool," said Levina absentmindedly as she reached for another card. "Hey! It's my go, Destiny!"
"Squash him, he's only a pawn, you idiot!" Harry shouted at his chess piece. "Sorry, Mrs. Weasley, what did you say?"
"Professor Snape, dear. He'd like a word with you two."
Levina faltered and accidently touched the wrong card, causing it to explode loudly and send Lilypad running for cover. "What?" she demanded, turning to face her in horror. Next to her, Harry looked was gaping open-mouthed, mortified.
"Snape?" he repeated blankly.
"Professor Snape," said Mrs. Weasley reprovingly. "Now come on, quickly, he says he can't stay long."
"What's he want with you?" said Ron as Mrs. Weasley withdrew from the room.
"You two haven't done anything, have you?"
"Of course not!" said Levina, thinking hard. What could she have possibly done to warrant a visit from Snape at Grimmauld Place? She followed Harry downstairs and into the kitchen, where Sirius and Uncle Nick were seated opposite of Snape, glaring at each other. A letter lay open in front of Sirius.
"Er," said Harry to announce their presence.
"Hi, Uncle Nick," said Levina in a small voice.
Snape looked around at them, his face framed between curtains of greasy black hair.
"Sit down, Potter, Miss Snowpetal."
"You know," said Sirius loudly, "I think I'd prefer it if you didn't give orders here, Snape. It's my house, you see."
Snape flushed an ugly color on his pallid face. Levina sat down next to Uncle Nick, facing Snape across the table.
"I was supposed to see you two alone," said Snape, the usual sneer crossing his face, "but Black-"
"I'm his godfather," said Sirius loudly.
"And Levina is under my household," said Uncle Nick sharply. "And seeing as I am in fact Rick's brother, I am considered her godfather."
Levina looked up at him, perplexed. Was it because of Rick and Uncle Nick's various arguements that she never lived with him in the first place after her parent's death?
"I am here on Dumbledore's orders," said Snape, who's own voice was growing quieter in contrast to Sirius's, "but by all means, Black, I know you like to feel...involved."
"What's that supposed to mean?" said Sirius, letting his chair fall back onto all four legs loudly.
"Sirius," said Uncle Nick warningly.
"Merely that I am sure you must feel-ah-frustrated by the fact that you can do nothing useful for the Order."
Sirius flushed red and Uncle Nick got to his feet. "Enough!" he said sternly, looking between the two men. "This is not what you came here to discuss."
Snape's lip curled in triumph at Sirius and he turned to Harry and Levina. "The headmaster has sent me to tell you two that it is his wish for you to study Occlumency this term."
"Study what?" said Harry at the exact same time as Levina said, "Do what now?"
"Occlumency, Potter. The magical defense of the mind against external penetration. An obscure branch of magic, but a highly useful one."
External penetration? Levina thought, her heart beginning to pound in her chest. Was he talking about Voldemort trying to get inside her mind through her parents?
"Why do we have to study Occlu-thing?" said Harry.
"Because the headmaster thinks it is a good idea," said Snape. "You will recieve private lessons once a week, but you will not tell anybody what you are doing, least of all Dolores Umbridge. You understand?"
"Why would we tell Umbridge anything?" said Levina hotly.
"Who's going to teach us?" said Harry.
Snape raised an eyebrow.
"I am," he said.
Levina felt as though all of her oxygen had been sucked from her lungs. She made a small strangled noise and looked up at Uncle Nick in desperation. Extra lessons with Snape? What had she done to deserve this?
"Why can't Dumbledore teach Harry and Levina?" said Sirius aggressively. "Why you?"
"I suppose because it is a headmaster's privelage to delegate less enjoyable tasks," said Snape silkily. "I assure you I did not beg for the job." He got to his feet. "I will expect you two at six o' clock on Monday evening. My office. If anyone asks, you are taking Remedial Potions."
He turned to leave, his black traveling cloak flowing behind him.
"Wait a minute," said Sirius.
Snape turned back over his shoulder, sneering. "I am in rather a hurry, Black...unlike you, I do not have unlimited leisure time..."
"Don't even go there!" said Uncle Nick, glaring angrily at Snape.
"It's fine," said Sirius, standing up, "If I hear you're using these Occlumency lessons to give Harry and Levina a hard time, you'll have us to answer to." He gestured to himself and Uncle Nick.
"How touching," Snape sneered. "But surely you have noticed that Potter and Miss Snowpetal are very like their fathers?"
I swear, if he's calling me guy-like again...thought Levina, sighing.
"Yes, I have," said Sirius proudly.
"Just like her parents," said Uncle Nick, beaming down at Levina.
"Well then, you'll notice Potter's as arrogant that criticism bounces right off him, and Miss Snowpetal's as absent-minded that she would hardly notice anything I say-"
Sirius and Uncle Nick shoved their chairs to the ground and strode over to Snape, pulling out their wands. Snape whipped out his own and they glared at each other angrily.
"Uncle Nicholas!" said Levina warningly.
"I've warned you, Snivellus," said Sirus, "I don't care if Dumbledore thinks you've reformed, I know better-"
"Oh, but why don't you tell him so?" whispered Snape. "Or are you afraid he might not take the advice of a man who's been hiding inside his mother's house for six months?"
"Who's more arrogant?" snarled Uncle Nick. "James, or the greasy toerag before me?"
"Don't you get involved in this," said Snape sharply, his dark eyes narrowed, "your brother may have been a rebellious twit, but you're no different-"
"Tell me, how is Lucius these days? I expect he's delighted his lapdog's working at Hogwarts, isn't he?" said Sirius.
"Speaking of dogs, did you know Lucius recognized you last time you risked going outside? Clever idea, getting yourself seen on a safe station platform...gave you a cast-iron excuse not to leave your hidey-hole in the future, didn't it?"
Uncle Nick and Sirius raised their wands.
"NO!" Harry yelled, trying to get between them.
"Uncle Nick, don't!" said Levina, leaping in front of him in an attempt to keep him back. "No! Stop it!"
"Are you calling me a coward?" roared Sirius.
"Why yes, I suppose I am," said Snape.
The kitchen door opened and the Weasley family, Hermione, Destiny, and Eric entered, looking very happy, with Mr. Weasley walking among them dressed in striped pajamas.
"Cured!" he announced brightly. "Comepletely cured!"
He and all of the others froze on the threshold, gazing at the scene in front of them: Snape, Uncle Nick, and Sirius looking towards the door with their wands pointed at each other, Levina and Harry between them, trying to force them apart.
"Merlin's beard," said Mr. Weasley, the smile melting off his face. "What's going on here?"
"Dad?" said Destiny in a small voice, looking from Uncle Nick to his wand pointed at Snape.
The three men lowered their wands and pocketed them with looks of contempt. Snape turned on his heel and swept across the kitchen, passing the others without comment. In the doorway, he looked back.
"Six o' clock Monday evening, Miss Snowpetal, Potter."
He vanished. Sirius and Uncle Nick glared after him.
"What's going on?" said Eric.
"Nothing," said Sirius, breathing heavily. "Just a friendly chat between three old school friends..."
"So, you're cured, are you?" said Uncle Nick. "That's brilliant, great news!"
That night's dinner would have been cheerful upon Mr. Weasley's return, but Levina could tell that Uncle Nick and Sirius were forcing themselves to be cheery. Levina couldn't honestly blame him; to have Snape take a jab at his deceased brother was below the belt, and she was sure he was still seething inside. She wished she could talk to him about it, but she was not given any opprotunity to do so. Instead, she told Ron, Hermione, and Destiny.
"Dumbledore wants you to stop having those visions about Voldemort, and he wants you to prevent Voldemort from getting to you through your parents," said Hermione at once. "He's got to be getting stronger at it, Levina, if you're starting to actually feel things now..."
"Extra lessons with Snape?" said Ron. "I'd rather have the nightmares!"
"Is he really that bad?" said Destiny curiously. "He can't be any worse than my Charms teacher, Professor Lefebvre..."
"He's that bad," said Ron, Levina, and Harry together.
The next day, they were to return to Hogwarts on the Knight bus. Levina wasn't looking forward to Destiny, whom she had only seen for a short period of time.
"I can send Celeste to carry our mail, for Athena's sake," said Destiny, who had the Pernambuco Pygmy owl resting on her shoulder.
"Thanks," said Levina appreciatively. "Tell Fleur I said hi, all right?"
"All right," said Destiny, grinning. "I'm going to miss you so much! Write to me as much as you can, okay?" She embraced Levina tightly before passing her the luggage, including Lilypad and Athena's cages.
"'Bye," Eric mumbled, leaning down to give Levina a quick hug. "I need to get back to Romania to check up on Ryuu..."
"Listen," said Levina, placing her suitcase down, "I'm sorry if I upset you the other day, asking about your family-"
Eric put his hands up in front of him. "Save it. Just don't make family trivia a daily thing, all right?"
"All right," said Levina with a grin. "See you at the end of the year!"
"Au revoir, George," said Destiny, reaching up to kiss George on the cheek.
"Au revoir, Destiny," said George, who had a dreamy expression and was red in the face.
"Levina," said Sirius, who was approaching her with a poorly wrapped package. "Here, I have something for you...It's a way of letting me know if Snape's giving you a hard time. Don't open it here!" he added as she began to pull the string away. "Molly wouldn't approve of it, I'm sure. But I want you to use it if needed, all right?"
"Sure," said Levina, stowing the pocket into her jacket, although she had a feeling she wouldn't use it. She gave him, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and Uncle Nick quick hugs and waved to them from the doorway. "Bye!"
As they headed down the steps, Levina couldn't help but feel a sense of loss: Sure, she was going back to her true home, but she wasn't going to be able to hang out with Destiny, nor would she be able to talk to Eric. Instead, she was walking right back into the toad's territory, where she would be taking lessons from her much-loathed Potions Master.
Lupin flung out his right arm when they were outside, and almost instantly, a huge, purple, triple-decker bus had appeared out of thin air in front of them with a sharp BANG, nearly hitting a nearby lampost.
"Whoa," said Levina, gazing up at it as she jumped back to avoid being hit. So that's what the Knight Bus was.
A thin youth in a purple uniform leapt down onto the pavement. "Welcome to the-"
"Yes, yes, we know," said Tonks swiftly. "On you go, on-"
As Levina pulled herself past the conductor, he goggled at her and Harry.
"'Ere-it's Levina an' 'Arry-!"
"If you shout their names I will curse you into oblivion," muttered Tonks.
"I've always wanted to ride this," said Ron happily.
"Didn't you take this in our third year, Harry?" said Levina, proceeding to the top deck, where she eagerly found a seat in the back. "This looks like fun!"
"Doesn't it?" said Harry, who had a weary expression. "Trust me, you'll think twice..."
They each handed Stan eleven Sickles and Levina placed Lilypad and Athena's cages on the luggage rack, keeping her suitcase in her lap. The bus set off with a loud BANG, swaying violently, and Levina toppled straight out of her chair and over her suitcase, nearly avoiding a candle bracket as it fell to the ground. Lilypad hissed in terror as her cage swung forward out of the rack and Levina caught it, stowing it hastily behind her chair.
"You keepin' well, then, 'Arry? I seen your name in the paper loads over the summer," said Stan, who was watching them happily, "but it weren't never nuffink very nice...I said to Ern, I said, ''e didn't seem like a nutter when we met 'im, just goes to show, dunnit?'"
"But he's not a nutter," said Levina sharply as she pulled her chair back upright.
"Levina Snowpetal, innit?" said Stan, beaming at her. "I never done met yeh, considerin' 'ow yeh never riddin' the Knight Bus before..."
BANG.
Levina slid forward again and fell flat on her face before she could reply. To make matters worse, Athena's cage slipped as well and landed on her head painfully.
"Ouch!"
Ron was not doing so well either; for the sixth time in a row, he picked himself up, and Pigwidgeon, who had escaped from his cage, and returned to his seat. "I've changed my mind," he muttered. "I never want to ride on here again."
"It certainly beats Muggle transportation," said Levina as she got to her feet, only to trip backwards again and crash into Harry, who had also fallen. "Oh, sorry Harry!"
"It's all right," said Harry, getting to his feet once more.
"Hey, Levina," said Hermione, who was holding on tightly to the wall of the bus, "it was nice to be able to see your family over the holiday."
"What? Oh, yeah," said Levina as she struggled to stay in her seat. "Definetly. I can't wait to see them and Ryuu again at the end of the year..."
"Yes, well..." Hermione had turned a pale pink color and she was looking at her hands in her lap. "You know your cousin Eric? I...well, I think he's very...attractive."
Levina fell forward again, but she caught the railing this time. "What? You like Eric?"
Hermione's cheeks deepened more red and she nodded.
"Well, I can't say I'm surprised," said Levina. "After all, he is half Siren..."
"Siren?" said Hermione, amazed. "Then that means...Destiny and Eric are half Siren? Her mother was one?"
"Yup," said Levina.
"That's amazing!" said Hermione. "I hear Sirens usually stick to themselves, they don't like wizards much..."
"Apparently Celeste did," said Levina.
They only made one stop outside a small pub to let a retching woman named Madam Marsh off. Once she had gotten off, much to the relief of the passengers riding near her, they took off again, gathering speed, until-
BANG.
They were rolling through a very snowy Hogsmeade. Levina peered out the window, where she could see the Hog's Head and Three Broomsticks nearby, their signs blowing violently in the wind. Finally, they rolled to a halt in front of the Hogwarts gates, where they staggered out of the bus with their luggage.
"Listen, Levina," said Lupin, who was passing her a very shaken Lilypad in her carrier, "I know you don't like Snape-"
Levina groaned.
"-but I want you to work hard during your lessons, all right? I want you to do your best, and I also want to remind you of something: You will not be able to contact me about any werewolf-related things, since the mail is being watched, so if you happen to have something go wrong, talk to Snape about it, all right?"
Levina frowned. "Is there no way I can talk to you? I mean-"
"Just read up on your books, and go to him if anything goes wrong," he repeated. "Dumbledore shouldn't be bothered about it right now, but you may also talk to Mcgonagall if you get the chance. Good luck." He shook her hand.
Levina struggled up the slippery path towards the castle, sliding about as she dragged her luggage. When they reached the doors, Levina looked back, but the bus was gone. She sighed; back to good old Hogwarts, home of the ugly, old toad.
...
The next day, Levina found herself being stalked by the D.A. members, who were all asking her about the next meeting. It was incredibly awkward, but she had to explain that she had "Remedial Potions" that evening and could not participate, and nor could Harry.
"I'm sorry you can't make it," said Alex Ratcliff, a Gryffindor fifth year, in the Great Hall during lunch, "But don't you know when the next lesson is?"
"Sorry, Alex," said Levina, shrugging hopelessly. "Harry's generally the one who makes the decisions on the times, so I'll have to get back to you. We just can't tonight..."
"Do you really have to take Remedial Potions?" she asked, her grey eyes slightly cloudy. "That must be-"
"You take Remedial Potions?" Zacharias asked her. "Good lord, you must be terrible. Snape doesn't usually give extra lessons, does he? And I thought you were good at Potions!"
"If you don't zip your lip," said Levina through gritted teeth, "then I'll jinx it so badly, you won't be able to talk for a month!"
"I'll join you on that," said Alex with a grin. "Anyway...see you in the next D.A. lesson!"
"Bye," said Levina, dropping gloomily back into her seat.
"Don't worry about him," said Hermione as she poured a glass of pumpkin juice at lunch. "You're better at Potions than he is, I'm sure..."
"Hi, Harry," said a sudden voice, and they turned around to see Cho Chang standing there, smiling.
"Oh," said Harry, flushing red, "Hi."
"We'll be in the library," said Hermione, and she seized Ron by the elbow and dragged him towards the marble staircase.
"I'll join you," said Levina, winking at Harry as she followed them. Halfway up the staircase, Fred Weasley stepped in front of her, beaming.
"Hi, Fred," said Levina. "Whatsup?"
"Hey. Did you know there's another Hogsmeade trip next month? There's a notice in the common room."
"What? Oh, cool," said Levina. "Should I ask Harry if we should schedule a meeting then?"
Fred shook his head, grinning. "No, no, that's not what I meant. I was wondering if you wanted to go to Hogsmeade with me then."
Levina frowned up at him, bemused. "But...don't we always go shopping together there with Lee and George?" she asked.
Fred laughed. "Yet again, you miss my point. I was wondering if you wanted to go together."
Levina's heart skipped a beat and she turned to face him. "L-like...d'you mean...on a...?"
"A date," Fred finished for her, still beaming. "It's on Valentine's Day, so I was wondering if you wanted to go, if you're not busy..."
Levina could feel the heat rising in her face and for a moment she merely stared at him, spluttering like an idiot. "I-err...well, that is...I mean, a d-date?"
"Unless you don't want to," said Fred. "It's all right if you don't-"
"No, I do!" Levina blurted out before she could stop herself. "I'd love to!"
"All right, so I'll see you then," said Fred, winking as he set off down the corridor, leaving Levina feeling more confused and pleased over her emotions at the same time.
At six o'clock, Levina still couldn't help but feel two feet taller as she walked with Harry towards Snape's office; she was slightly upset with Fred, having worked out in her head that the Yule Ball was nothing, but now, apparently, they were going out on a date. What was their relationship exactly? She couldn't help but feel as though her mind was tangled up.
"Why are you in such a good mood?" said Harry dully as she skipped down the corridor.
"Oh, nothing," she said cheerfully. "What about you and Cho? What happened earlier?"
Harry's face reddened, but he smiled slightly at the memory. "I asked her out on a date..."
"Really? Harry, that's great!" she said happily. "I knew it! It was bound to happen sooner or later..."
They reached Snape's office and Harry knocked on the door, his happiness melting as he entered, Levina on his heels. Snape's office was shadowy and filled with shelves lined with various jars, which were filled with slimy bits of animals and plants. In the corner, by Snape's desk, there was a strange basin engraved with runes and symbols, one Levina recognized to have been in Dumbledore's office. What was it doing there?
"Close the door behind you, Miss Snowpetal."
Feeling as though she were locking herself into prison, Levina closed the door shut. When she turned back around, Snape was pointing silently at two chairs opposite his desk. Levina and Harry sat down quietly.
"Well, Potter, Miss Snowpetal, you know why you are here," he said. "The headmaster has asked me to teach you Occlumency. I can only hope that you prove more adept at it than Potions, Potter."
"Right," said Harry tersely.
"This may not be an ordinary class," said Snape, his eyes narrowed malevolently, "but I am your teacher and you will therefore call me 'sir' or 'Professor' at all times."
There's no way I'm going to survive this, Levina thought. "Yes...sir," she mumbled, and Harry repeated it.
Snape surveyed them for a moment with narrowed eyes and said, "Now, Occlumency. As I told you back in your dear godfather's kitchen, this branch of magic seals the mind against magical intrusion and influence."
"And why does Professor Dumbledore think that we need it, sir?" said Harry.
"Surely even you could have worked that out by now, Potter? The Dark Lord is highly skilled at Legilimency-
"What's Legil-that thing? Sir?" said Levina.
"It is the ability to extract feelings and memories from another person's mind-"
"He can read minds?" said Harry quickly, and Levina's heart skipped a beat. Was Voldemort viewing her thoughts right then? The thought made her shiver.
"You have no subtlety, Potter. You do not understand fine distinctions. It is one of the shortcomings that makes you such a lamentable potion-maker."
He paused for a moment, apparently enjoying insulting Harry.
"Okay," said Levina shortly, "so are you going to explain it, then? Sir?"
Snape's black eyes narrowed at her. "Only Muggles talk of 'mind reading.' The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls, to be persued by any invader. The mind is a complex and many-layered thing. It is true, however, that those who have mastered Legilimency are able, under certain conditions, to delve into the minds of their victims and to interpret their findings correctly. The Dark Lord almost always knows when someone is lying to him. Only those skilled at Occlumency are able to shut down those feelings and memories that contradict the lie."
Whatever way Snape put it, Legilimency sounded like mind-reading. Levina couldn't supress a shiver of fear at the thought of Voldemort lurking inside her mind, trying to take control of her powers...
"So, basically, he could know what we're thinking about right now? Sir?" said Levina.
"The Dark Lord is at a considerable distance and the walls are guarded by many ancient spellls here. Time and space matter in magic, Miss Snowpetal. Eye contact is often essential to Legilimency."
"Well then, why do I have to learn Occlumency?" said Harry.
Snape eyed Harry, tracing his mouth with one finger as he did so. "The usual rules do not seem to apply with you two. The curse that failed to kill you, Potter, seems to have forged a connection. The evidence suggests that when your mind is relaxed, you are sharing the Darkl Lord's thoughts. As for you," he continued, turning his eyes to Levina, "Your connection with the Dark Lord is different. Dumbledore seems to think he is getting to you through your parents, but their memories are in the way of him getting to yours, so you are experiencing their memories with the Dark Lord as well as his will to get through."
"Great," Levina mumbled. "Sir."
"It appears the Dark Lord, in your case, Potter, was unaware of the connection until recently. The vision you had before Christmas represents such a powerful incursion upon the Dark Lord's thoughts-"
"I saw inside the snake's head, not his!"
"Do not interrupt me, Potter!" said Snape in a dangerous voice. Levina looked over at Harry, who was perched on the edge of his seat.
"How come I saw through the snake's eyes if it's Voldemort's thoughts I'm sharing?" said Harry.
"Do not say the Dark Lord's name!" spat Snape so loudly that Levina jumped.
There was a small silence and Harry said quietly, "Professor Dumbledore says his name."
"Professor Dumbledore is an extremely powerful wizard," Snape muttered. "While he may feel secure enough to, the rest of us..." He rubbed his left forearm, most likely unconciously. Hadn't Harry mentioned Snape being a Death Eater? Levina wondered if that's where he had the Dark Mark branded in his skin.
"He just wanted to know why-" Levina began defensively.
"You seem, Potter," said Snape, cutting across her, "to have visited the snake's mind because that's where the Dark Lord was at the particular moment. He was possessing the snake at the time and you dreamed you were inside it too..."
"And Vol-he-realized I was there?" said Harry.
"It seems so," said Snape coldly.
"What about me?" said Levina, sitting upright in her chair. "Is Vold-You-Know-Who getting stronger with getting into my mind, is that why I felt pain in the last vision I had?"
"Perhaps," said Snape coolly, "which brings is back to Occlumency."
Snape pulled out his wand from an inside pocket of his robes and touched it to his black hair, where a silvery-like substance came away in a strand and fell into the basin.
"Er," said Levina, as he continued to repeat the process, "What's-?"
"It's a Pensieve," said Harry automatically. "It's like a thing for memories..."
"Oh," said Levina, not altogether understanding. "Okay then..."
"Stand up and take out your wands," said Snape, who had picked up the basin and placed it on a shelf before returning to them, wand at the ready.
Levina got to her feet nervously and followed Harry to the other side of the room.
"You may use your wand to attempt to disarm me, or defend yourself in any other way you can think of," said Snape.
Levina frowned. "And what are you going to do?"
"I am about to attempt to break into your minds," said Snape softly. "We are going to see how well you resist...Brace yourself...Legilimens!"
Snape struck Levina before she had even thought of a defensive spell. The office vanished before her eyes and image after image of her life flashed through her eyes...
She was five, struggling desperately to get out of a locked closet as Anna and her friends held it closed, jeering at her...She was eight, sitting on the roof of the house on her forgotten birthday, as usual, crying into the sleeve of her shirt...She was sitting under the Sorting Hat, which was contemplating her condition and Slytherin...She was lying on the ground in a puddle of blood before the basilisk, which was lunging...Lupin in werewolf form was advancing on her, knocking her to the ground with sharp fangs...She was against the wall and Fred was leaning in towards her at the Yule Ball...
No, thought Levina sharply as the memory of Fred drew nearer to her. No, that's private-
Levina fell to the ground heavily and rolled onto her side. When she looked up, she was back in Snape's office, lying at Harry's feet.
Snape was rubbing his wrist, where there was an angry weal, like a scorch mark, and he was glaring at Harry.
"Did you mean to produce a Stinging Hex?" he asked coolly.
"No," said Harry bitterly.
"I thought not," said Snape. "You let me get in too far. You lost control."
"Did you see everything that we saw?" Levina asked uncertainly.
"Flashes of it," said Snape, his lip curling. "To whom did the dog belong?"
"Dog?" said Levina. "There was no d-"
"My Aunt Marge," Harry muttered, looking murderous.
"Well, for a first attempt that was not as poor as it could have been," said Snape. "Repel me with your brain and you will not need your wand."
"I'm trying!" said Harry angrily. "You're not even telling us how to!"
"Clear your minds," said Snape coldly. "I want you to closed your eyes."
Levina suspiciously shut her eyes while Snape faced them, wand at the ready. "Okay. Eyes closed."
"Let go of all emotion..."
How? Levina thought. I can't clear my mind with you in here...
"You're not doing it. You will need more discipline than this...Focus, now," said Snape's cold voice.
Levina sighed and attempted to empty her memories, all of her emotion. She felt nothing...she heard nothing...
"Again...on the count of three...one-two-three- Legilimens!"
She had run into Destiny in the library for the first time and there were books scattered everywhere...She was flying on the Quidditch pitch next to Fred and George, the wind in her hair...Her parents were waving to her in the enchanted mirror...She was laughing as Lilypad took Draco's shoelace on the train and he snarled at her...Rick and James Potter were talking in the front yard in Godric's Hollow, each holding a bundle...What was this?
This isn't mine, Levina thought, watching her father talking to Harry's. I don't remember this...
"I think her eyes are Nadia's," Rick was saying, holding out the bundle in his arms so James could see it. "But something in her face looks like me..."
James laughed and held his own blanket up, where a small boy with black hair lay. "Look, Harry, it's Levina! You two are going to be best friends someday, just like Rick and I."
"And you'll probably get into just as much trouble," said Rick, and Levina could feel his heart swelling as he looked down at her lying in the pink blanket, his loving eyes resting on her own. He was overcome with happiness, so much love as he kissed her on the forehead...
"NOOOOO!"
Levina jumped abruptly and the vision was stolen away, leaving her back in Snape's office, where Harry was on his knees, his face buried in his hands.
"Harry!" said Levina, leaning down to help him up.
"Get up!" said Snape sharply. "Get up! You are not trying, you are making no effort, you're allowing me access to the memories you fear and handing me weapons!"
Harry stood up again with Levina's help and he staggered slightly. Snape looked paler than usual, and angrier.
"I am making an effort," Harry snarled. "The whole 'emptying my mind' thing is a bit hard for me right now..."
"Then you will find yourself easy prey for the Dark Lord!" he said savagely. "Weak people, those who wear their hearts on their sleeves, they stand no chance against his power! And as for you," said Snape, turning on Levina sharply, "You let me take too much control over your mind, your father's memories became your own!"
"I don't know how to stop it!" said Levina fiercly. "You're not telling me!"
"I thought I told you to address me as 'sir'!" Snape hissed.
"Sir," said Levina through gritted teeth, "I'm having trouble stopping it, all right?"
"Then the Dark Lord will enter your mind easily!" said Snape sharply. "Discipline your mind! We shall try again! Get ready, now! Legilimens!"
She was watching Anna on Christmas with jealousy as she opened a box to find a computer...Lupin was telling her about her being a rare type of werewolf...A group of guys was throwing rocks at her...Rick was backed against the wall in terror as Voldemort advanced on him, demanding the truth out of him...
"Crucio!"
"No!" Levina shrieked, and the pain surged through her veins, blocked out every emotion, every feeling but pain...Her eyes streamed with tears and she fell to the ground as the shadow advanced on her, wand pointed at her.
"Stop! Stop! Stop!" Levina screamed, trying to shove the figure away from her. "Get away from me! NO!"
"Liar! Crucio!"
The pain returned again and Levina fought to keep the shadow away from her, to keep them from causing her pain...
"Miss Snowpetal," said a sharp voice, and the shadowy figure of Voldemort turned into Snape, who was kneeling in front of her. She was lying against a broken shelf, covered in shards of glass and some sort of green substance.
"You let things get out of control again!" he snarled. "You let your mind be taken over and you subconciously ran back and hit the shelf. You can't let-"
"I know!" said Levina, who had huddled up against the shelf, blood and tears streaming down her cheeks. "I'm trying! I'm trying!"
"Clearly not hard enough," said Snape coldly. He turned to Harry, who was on all fours. "What happened, Potter?"
"I saw-I remembered," Harry panted. "I've just realized..." He trailed off, looking pale.
"Harry...?" said Levina. What had he seen?
Snape turned back to Levina and he examined her bleeding arm, but when he pulled up her sleeve she remembered the words Umbridge had carved into it and pulled it sharply back down. His eyes narrowed.
"I-I'll just go to the Hospital Wing," she said, covering the words Filthy Half Breeed with her other hand.
Snape stared at her, looking as though he might comment, but instead he said, "Go to the Hospital Wing, then. I want you back in here same time on Wednesday, and we will continue then. As for you Potter, what did you realize?"
Levina staggered from the room, holding her arm, her head pounding painfully. She wasn't sure how long she'd be able to keep this up; if she had to see her father tortured and feel it one more time, she might just collapse...
Hello everyone! Did you like the chapter? It was fun typing out the small bits of Levina's memories; I hope you enjoyed it!
Review Responses:
Flying werecats: Almost. :) And no, it was Destiny's mother, but Nick isn't a Siren, so Rick isn't either, so...nope! She's not, but it would be pretty cool to breathe underwater...and I'm glad you found the LevinaXDraco bit amusing :D
Silvermoony77: Thanks! I put a lot of work/planning into that scene, even if it was incredibly clique...And yup! She's taken Occlumency as well. And yeah haha, that would be why Ron is always so bashful/clumsy around her haha (: I'm really glad you liked it, and I think it might be Greek, but I'm not sure...And thanks! I like Eric's character too :D Oh, and I might add Alex in again in another chapter during a D.A. lesson, since the scene before was so short, so look for it! ;)
Flower gettin' Lady: Yup, yet! I'm evil (: Thanks, I thought her connection should differ from Harry's, to make it more interesting and what not...And haha, yeah I can't think of a worse time for them to run into each other...Anyway, sadly, he is hard on them both; he's just mean like that :( And Lockhart is...'special'. (:
Order of the Azkaban Hallows: Thanks! (:
Things to come: Department of Mysteries, Educational Decree Twenty-Six, Valentine's Day, and more.