A/N Whether Snape and Lily are actually having an affair will remain a mystery like many things in life. I don't really care either way; I only wrote Harry and Olivia's conversation as a way for this scene to take place. Remember that the adults still don't know that the children know (that Olivia overheard).

I exited my bathroom and strode through the decorated halls of Potter Manor, my wand emanating a gentle hum of magic in its holster at my leg, overshadowed by a vast dome of intricately woven magic high above my head, high above the ceiling. The Fedelius Charm—along with a myriad of wards and such. Though it was mostly the Fedelius Charm. Dumbledore's work. I could feel it the most when I moved through the halls, and even today, the power of this particular spell enthralled me to no end.

The mansion was very, very grand. Three floors of over twenty rooms each, an extended basement, spacious gardens and fields, and even a dungeon, snugly sat within the concealment spell at a northern alcove of the Scottish Highlands. We were quite close to Hogwarts by some chance, a few hours away on a high-speed broom, and not a single witch or wizard would stumble on us even if they flew directly overhead. Simply astounding.

Fleur would like it here, I bet, though her family probably also had lavish places tucked away in both France and Britain. I had to remind myself she was part of muggle royalty. That had to count for something, right? I wasn't sure of the conversion rate from their many currencies to Galleons. It couldn't be generous.

And even now, she kept on intruding on my thoughts like an itch that wouldn't go away. A good itch.

I sighed and hurried my pace. My shoes squeaked harshly against the polished marble floor every other step. We needed some carpet in the halls. As a date, maybe Fleur and I could go shopping someti— My face scrunched as I halted my thoughts with a strong mental slap. I was going to see her soon; right now I needed to focus on my Occlumency above all else to ensure I was still going to.

I sped up my gait, imagined I was strolling through a lush rainforest instead of these portrait-lined halls. Various historical figures and family ancestors looked at me left and right, silent and judging. I guess they could tell something was irking me. Nosey buggers.

Soon enough as I descended a flight of stairs, I caught up to Olivia and my parents at the reception. A few of our house elves were serving refreshments; Dumbledore and Snape were already there, the Potions Master grim-looking as ever. He sure liked the color black. Maybe it was a habit from his Death Eater days, reminded him of their robes and masks. For his sake, I hoped that he really did love—

I ate a gag reflex and refused the train of thought. I didn't want to get involved in the adults' disgusting business when I barely had a handle on my own. Fleur was my priority.

Ugh. I meant my Occlumency was my priority.

I silently heeled onto the bottom step, and of course, Dumbledore was the first to notice me from all the way across the lobby. He nodded with grandfatherly warmth, then sipped out of a crystal goblet. Pumpkin juice. I took a small triangle sandwich from an elf's server and joined in. I wolfed down the meaty bread in two bites.

"Harry. It's good to see you are well," Dumbledore said. There was heavy implication in his tone.

"Thank you, sir." It was all I could say, and I didn't really mind that he knew about my new… goal.

Snape crossed his arms, catching my eye. His magical aura was tiny in comparison to Dumbledore's, though of quite similar power to Dad's. "Mr. Potter. Not very punctual today."

"Apologies, professor. I needed the bathroom."

"Apology…" He paused for dramatic effect. "Accepted." There was a nearly invisible smirk at his lips.

Dad actually laughed. Olivia too. While Mum simply shook her head, sheepish, I just wanted to get this through with quickly. I didn't care if Snape was in a good mood today. The lessons with him were the worst, quite agonizing with the continued mental attacks. We only put up with it because this method produced the quickest results. Olivia didn't have to take part, thankfully. Though she could—if she wanted.

While mostly the adults resumed their smalltalk about such and such, I remained lost in my own little world, strengthening the walls protecting my mindscape as much as possible. I knew what was coming: Snape was going to see my memories of Fleur if I failed to keep him out. Bloody hell. I didn't know they could be so sadistic… but it was apparently for my own good. As usual.

Olivia bumped my arm. She said in a low voice, "Snape's going to see—"

"I know." I stood straighter, feet apart. "He won't get in." He rarely did nowadays.

"Good to hear. I was concerned."

I looked at her curiously. If I didn't know better, that sounded like she cared about me. "You were worried about me?"

"Nah. More like I'm worried about the manor."

My head inclined. "I'd fix it up easily, especially with my Elder-Thestral wand. It's mostly stone and glass."

She looked at me with a… different expression. Almost blank. I didn't know what to make of it, and I didn't get a chance to question her; Mum said my name and took my hand, already leading me outside through the open double-doors. It was safer out there in case of accidents on my part, which were very common during these lessons with Snape—and why Dumbledore tagged along.

Mum, Dad, and Olivia stopped at the edge of our Quidditch field while I continued to the center with the two professors. It had to be Snape. He was a master Legilimens and Occlumens, better than even Dumbledore and Voldemort. I found that hard to believe.

Freshly cut grass crunched under my shoes, and arctic winds blew from the north, my hair going blowing left and right. The sun was unusually dim, so I heated myself with a wave of my wand, looked out into the wavy seas to calm myself for this 'lesson'. I was doing it for Fleur as much as I was doing it for myself.

I stood facing an emotionless yet intense Snape, two meters apart, while Dumbledore lingered further off to the side, wands all out.

"Whenever you're ready, Harry," Dumbledore said.

I breathed grassy, icy air, exhaled. I was as ready as I could be, my heart going at a steady beat of eighty and no more in the influence of my Occlumency. I was in absolute control of my emotions. My inner walls were reinforced to the max.

I nodded.

Snape made his move. His magic rumbled, expanded like an explosion funneled at me through his arm and ebony wand. "Legilimens."

Far stronger than usual, the intensity caught me off guard. I was sucked into my barren mindscape with the lonely obsidian fortress guarding my magical core and memories. The spell slipped into a gap in the outer translucent barriers like a vicious snake. It seeped right through my inner walls.

Then I saw her. Fleur—staring at me with that hawk-like expression. It was as though I'd gone back in time. I was with her again and not. I wish I could reach out and hold her, but I couldn't, and I couldn't even sense her lovely magic and allure either. Still, she made me feel incredible. I didn't know a girl could be so pretty and graceful. I didn't know a girl could be so brazen and challenge me unlike any other.

With a blinding headache, the memory shifted.

Fleur yelped so cutely.

I was holding her. Her soft, warm body was unlike anything else. Her fruity-vanilla scent filled my lungs. A happiness greater than anything I'd ever felt filled me to the brim, my heart pounding in my neck. I leaned forward to kiss her forehead.

And then she was gone. The memory dissolved. I was back in my inner chamber next to my crater-like magical core.

Snape stood with a pitying look.

No. He took her from me.

"How…" His brows lifted. "Pathetic. No improvement, and the vanquisher of the dark lord had been reduced to—"

"Back off!" Rage took over. I lost control. That single taunt sent me over the edge, and everything that'd been bottled up in me for years burst forth like a sudden earthquake. The crater rumbled, then exploded with pure, undiluted fiery magic. The misty snake of his spell was blasted out in an instant, and the entirety of my power stormed through my mind, violent, angry, and hot as a dragon's flame. Everything was on fire.

I was yanked out of my mindscape.

"Harry!" someone yelled.

Everything really was on fire—the whole world around me. I didn't care. Some things needed to burn. Some things like the Death Eater standing before me. I screamed from my stomach as my face strained with hate, and my flames took on a deathly tinge of black. I collapsed it all on Snape with a slash of my wand, fed it more of my power. It demanded more as though it were alive.

My flames grew in size, blurred together and stormed the field like a hurricane, and at the eye of the hurricane was not a hollow but a beast of blackish-red fire risen from the depths of Hell. It had two heads, the heads of lions, and the body of a dragon. It roared with a deafening screech, its jaws unhinging to reveal the fangs of a snake.

It was beautiful, and it was mine, waiting.

A throaty laugh spilled from my parted teeth. Snape was going to burn. How dare he take her away and mock me, and how dare he love Mum then join Voldemort. I flicked my wand, flicked my intent through the magic connecting me to it and the flames.

The beast lunged, screeching louder.

Snape disappeared with a crack in a haze of white.

I felt his puny aura behind me. My ankles strained as I twisted.

A flash of red.

I crumpled to the ground, drowsiness defeating me.