Disclaimer: It seriously isn't worth sueing me for this, unless you want £2.40 and all my coursework D:
D: Right apologise for the slow update this time. Unfortunately works caught up with me :x
On a brighter note, thank you to all that reviewed :D And yes Weez, Thank you too (finally mentioned you, HAPPY NOW?)
Thanks to Katy, who always seems to have time to Beta :D
Enjoy Enjoy!
"Concentrate, Ronald!" Hermione scolded.
Harry heard Ron simply groan in response. How Ron and him were going to get all this revision done, Harry really didn't know.
Quickly he glanced at the clock hanging above the library door.
Dumbledore had briefly told him that the first Occlumency lesson with Malfoy would be tonight.
But how could having Malfoy looking through all his worst memories be, in any way, beneficial?
"I've gotta go see Dumbledore 'Mione," Harry lied swiftly. He wouldn't tell Ron or Hermione…they'd probably be outraged, and that was the last thing they needed with the exams closing in.
"Tell Ron I said bye and to have fun revising!" He added with a half-grin as Ron had seemingly fallen asleep on his work.
"Okay Harry, I'll see you later in the common room, yeah?" Hermione smiled back to him and waved.
Harry waved back and headed out the library and round the corner. The Occulumency lessons would have to be one of the spare rooms nobody used. Harry climbed another staircase and slowly made his way to the door, not hearing the footsteps behind him.
"In you go, Potter" Malfoy smirked, coming up behind him and slowly pushing the door open, holding it for Harry.
The Gryffindor sighed in defeat, walking in quickly and slowly slipping his hand in his robes to reach for his wand. His fingers flexed around the wooden catalyst.
"Oh and any violent acts used upon me will not go unpunished, I assure you..."
Harry sighed and dropped his wand back into the depths of his robes.
'Might as well get this over and done with...' Harry thought and sighed inwardly. Slowly he turned round to face Malfoy who was, with no doubt, smirking.
"Get on with it Malfoy," Harry glared, "I'm not going to waste my time with people like you any more than I have too."
"Oh, but I'm sure we've wasted a lot of time together!"
Harry blinked, a small blush blossoming across his face. "Shut up and get on with it!"
"Touché Potter," Malfoy flashed a quick grin before replacing it with a more serious expression. "You know what Occulumency is, right?"
Harry nodded in response.
"Good, I'm going to attack your mind and you've got to do your best to stop me from seeing your thoughts and memories."
"And how do I go about doing that?" Harry frowned. The little optimistic thoughts he had earlier had unfortunately faded.
"Just clear your mind and empty yourself of emotion."
Harry sighed quietly and focused on the task. It wasn't as easy as it sounded though. 'Right, concentrate!' Harry thought to himself, just as Draco shouted 'Legilimens!'
Images flashed in both their minds. The hazy memories began to clarify.
It was Harry's 11th Birthday. He was locked in the cupboard under the stairs watching the spiders weave their tangled webs.
"Boy, get out here now!" Uncle Vernon yelled.
Harry slowly got up from his bed, if you could call it that and went to see his somewhat infuriated Uncle.
Another flash, another memory. This time it had gone slightly further near to the present time.
It was Dudley's birthday and they had gone to the zoo.
The snake Harry was looking at slowly opened its beady eyes. Slowly, very slowly it raised its head until its eyes were on a level with Harry's.
Harry stared. Then he looked quickly around to see if anyone was watching. They weren't. He looked back at the snake and winked, too.
The snake jabbed its tail at the sign next to the glass. Harry peered at it.
"Boa Constrictor, Brazil."
"Out of the way, you" Dudley said, punching Harry hard in the ribs. Caught by surprise, Harry fell hard on the concrete floor.
What came next happened so fast no one saw how it happened – one second Piers and Dudley were leaning against the solid glass, the next, they had leapt back with howls of horror.
Harry sat up and gasped; the snake uncoiled itself from the branch it was on and slithered swiftly out of the cage.
As the snake slithered past him, Harry could have sworn he heard a low, hissing voice saying 'Brazil, here I come…thanksss amigo'
The reptile keeper was in much of a shock as the people witnessing the huge snake escape its confinements.
Piers, meanwhile, had calmed down enough to say. "Harry was speaking to it, weren't you Harry."
Harry stared up at his Uncle. Unfortunately he could see the rage in his Uncle's eyes and kept silent. "Go-cupboard-stay-no-meals." His Uncle ground out.
"GET OUT" The present Harry yelled and the forcefulness behind it seemed to remove Malfoy from his thoughts. Both boys were out of breath and lying opposite each other on the floor.
Harry was trying to calm himself but it was to no avail. Malfoy had just seen into some of his worst memories, some that he'd shared with no one but himself.
*****
Draco was wide eyed in surprise. He was sure that Harry Potter, the saviour or the wizarding world…the boy who lived, would have been spoiled as a child. And yet the boy before him had been cruelly treated…you could even call it abused.
Draco was furious.
"And you never told anyone about this?" He seethed and lunged at the Gryffindor, grabbing his tie and locking eyes with him. Cold and distant emerald eyes stared back into his.
"It isn't important." Harry said coldly and averted his gaze.
"Isn't important….?" Draco stretched the words out, "What person deserves to be treated like that, for what, eleven years?!"
"It doesn't matter-" Harry started again, his voice slightly weaker before Draco interrupted.
"It bloody well does Harry Potter because you matter to me." Draco said and yanked Harry's tie forcefully, bringing their mouths crashing together.
What'll happen next, who knows :) Well actually I do. And Katy knows too D:
No amount of bribary will convince us to tell however :D
Reviews greatly appreciated :D Cookies will be given out!
Love and Apologys
Zor xxx