Chapter IX

Occlumency

For the second time in just as many weeks, Diana found herself in Dumbledore's office.

She was standing across the desk from him once again, looking shamefully at the ground and trying to ignore the feeling that Dumbledore's eyes were x-raying her. The only sounds in the room were the constant whirring and clicking noises of the various silver instruments sitting on little tables and shelves, and the quiet snores of the sleeping portraits on the walls. Everyone else had already left the office, leaving her alone with the Headmaster.

Events had unfolded much as she had expected when the five students had entered the office behind their teachers: McGonagall had immediately started shouting about how irresponsible and careless they were, taken fifty points from everyone in Gryffindor, given them all detention for a week, and threatened to expel them if they were caught doing anything like this ever again. Professor Slughorn did much the same to Severus, who was in his house and therefore his responsibility, although he was considerably less vicious about it than his colleague. Only when his teachers had gotten the anger out of their systems did Dumbledore calmly ask the mortified students to explain themselves, and James had immediately launched into the story.

"… so you see, we knew Snape was going to try and get into the Shrieking Shack tonight and we were out trying to stop him before he ran into a fully-fledged werewolf!" James had finished earnestly.

"And did it not occur to you to inform an adult?" Dumbledore had asked, raising his eyebrows ever so slightly. "Myself, for instance, or Madam Pomfrey?"

When James did not answer Dumbledore had turned to Severus. "Is it true that you were attempting to enter the Shrieking Shack tonight, Severus?" he had asked calmly.

Severus had turned furiously to Sirius. "I wouldn't have if Black hadn't told me how to get in!" he had snarled. "I saw his little friend Lupin going in there with Madam Pomfrey once, and he knew I've been wanting to find out why he disappears every month so–"

"And did you find out why he disappears every month?" Dumbledore had interrupted, looking stern.

"He's a werewolf!" Severus had cried triumphantly. "I saw him, I knew –"

"I must ask you to tell no one what you saw," Dumbledore had said, looking even more stern. "Remus Lupin is a werewolf, but his secret is not yours to tell. The poor boy needs no more harassment."

Severus had fallen silent, fuming once more.

"Do I have your word?" Dumbledore had asked, looking at Severus intently with his bright blue, x-raying eyes.

"Yes, sir," Severus had mumbled, looking furiously at James and Sirius. Pettigrew had been hiding behind them, and he had cringed visibly under Severus' look of contempt.

"I must ask the same of you, Diana," Dumbledore had said, finally turning to her.

"My word," Diana had replied earnestly, determined to get back on Dumbledore's good side.

"Good," Dumbledore had said, changing his tone suddenly so that he now sounded as if he were discussing the weather. "Now I suggest we all return to our beds and get some sleep. Except you, Diana," he had said as she had turned to leave. The others had filed out of the office, leaving Diana where she now found herself: alone with Dumbledore once again.

"I still have no explanation as to why you are out of bed tonight," he said after a pause, peering at her from behind his half-moon spectacles. For the first time since entering the office, Diana remembered the voice.

"It was that voice again," she said quietly. "It was in my dreams."

"And you were on your way to see me when you ran into Severus on his way to the grounds?"

"No – well, not exactly." She took a deep breath. "When I woke up it was still talking to me, and I got out of bed and started walking through the castle…." She paused for a moment, searching for the words, and Dumbledore waited patiently. "It – it was like I couldn't control what I was doing, or more like it never occurred to me to control it while it was happening," she said finally. "The same as last time. Only this time I ran into Severus, instead of Slughorn, and the voices just disappeared again." She looked hesitantly up at Dumbledore, but relaxed when she saw his familiar calm expression. "He told me what he was doing and I tried to convince him to go back, but he wouldn't listen to me so I went with him instead, to make sure he was okay."

"Am I correct in assuming that this is the first time you have heard the voices since our last meeting?"

"Yes, Professor," said Diana, glad to be off the subject of what had happened on the grounds. Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully and sat behind his desk, motioning for Diana to do the same in the chair across from him. He put his fingertips together and spoke quietly, seeming to consider every word carefully.

"Diana, I do not know what has been causing these voices," he said. "However, I believe I know of a way to prevent them from troubling you any longer." Diana waited patiently as he drew his wand from inside his robes.

"I would like for you to learn Occlumency," he said, and Diana smiled for the first time that evening.

"I take it you already know what that is?" Dumbledore said in response to her wide grin.

"Yes, sir. I read about it in a book on Legilimency, although I've never tried practicing it."

"You have been studying Legilimency?" asked Dumbledore curiously. Diana nodded happily, and Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. Diana was slightly surprised when he didn't ask her why – but she was used to surprises where Dumbledore was concerned.

"That should make Occlumency much simpler for you," Dumbledore said, standing. "As a matter of fact, I think you are already very well suited for it – if I remember correctly, you showed considerable talent for the art before you even set foot in Hogwarts."

There was no need for Diana to tell him that he did remember correctly; they both already knew.

"I would like to begin immediately, if you have no objection."

Diana was (again) surprised by this, but although it was late she couldn't have slept even if she had been tired. "None, Professor," she said, standing to mimic Dumbledore.

"Good," said Dumbledore, and he pointed his wand at her. "I am going to try to enter your mind," he said, in the same tone he had used before that made it sound as if he were talking about the weather. "I would like you to attempt to prevent me from doing so in any way you can." She raised her wand but he shook his head. "No, I do not think your wand will help you, Diana," he said. "In your particular case, there seems to be no visible spell cast when your mind is invaded. Blocking me with a charm will not help you in deterring your elusive enemy."

Diana stowed her wand in her robes and tried to concentrate as he pointed his wand at her. No sound issued from his mouth, but suddenly the office disappeared and flashes of her own memories were flying before her eyes: the day she arrived at the hospital, alone and lost; the day Dumbledore came to tell her she was a witch; her first journey on the Hogwarts Express….

And then she was back in the office again. She was sitting back in the chair she had occupied earlier, and guessed that she had fallen backward. She got up slowly to face Dumbledore again.

"This time I would like you to focus on something in the room," said Dumbledore calmly. "Let it block out all other thoughts; have it be your anchor to the present."

Diana nodded and looked around the office. Her eyes caught the magnificent bird that she had seen the last time she was here, which was by far the most distinctive thing in the entire room, and she focused on it with all her might. She felt something tugging at her mind, as if trying to pull her backwards and into her own thoughts, but she allowed the bird to eclipse everything else, blocking out fleeting glimpses of memories she did not allow herself to recognize. She was concentrating so hard that she did not even realize the tugging sensation had stopped until Dumbledore called her name.

"Diana, that was very, very good," he said, giving her the twinkling smile that only Dumbledore could give. Her ability to focus so completely was almost unnerving, even to Dumbledore – but then, she had been practicing Legilimency already, and who knew what else.

"Thank you, Professor," Diana said, grinning. She looked over at the bird again, which was watching her almost as intently as she had been focusing on it.

"Sir – what is that?" she asked, gesturing to the beautiful animal. Dumbledore smiled again and walked over to stroke its red and orange plumage. It let out a cooing sound that was comparable to a cat's purr.

"Fawkes is a phoenix, Diana," said Dumbledore fondly. "They truly are the most magnificent creatures." Fawkes warbled quietly and Dumbledore chuckled. "But I think it is time for bed, for all of us," he said, straightening and turning back to Diana. Fawkes put his head under his wing and Diana couldn't help laughing; it was almost as if the phoenix had understood what Dumbledore was saying.

"Before you retire to your bed, not only tonight but every night, I would like you to attempt to clear your mind of all thoughts and emotions," Dumbledore said. "I think this will allow you to sleep unmolested."

Diana nodded and he continued. "I would like to see you again for your next Occlumency lesson one week from today, on October the twenty-fourth at eight o'clock in the evening."

"Professor, have you any idea what has been causing this?" Diana asked abruptly. Dumbledore sighed.

"I'm afraid I have only theories, all of them possible but none probable," he said. "But whatever the cause, I do not think it is something either of us wishes be allowed to continue."

Diana nodded again and turned to leave, but Dumbledore spoke once more:

"I do not have to tell you, Diana, that this is not something I wish you to discuss with anyone but myself."

"No one, Professor?" she asked timidly. "People were already wondering what I was up to last time I was here, and I don't like making up stories."

"You surprise me, Diana. I thought you would have no trouble finding a reason to have been gone."

"I did find a reason," she said earnestly. "But I don't like lying to my friends."

Dumbledore gave her a very curious look before smiling once more. "Again you surprise me," he said quietly, almost as if to himself. "Very well, you may tell only your very best and closest companions. No more than two or three others, I think, and make sure they are sworn to secrecy."

"Thank you sir," said Diana gratefully, thinking immediately of Severus and Lily. "Good night."

Diana left the office lost in thought. It may have been a trick of the light, but she could have sworn she saw a tear glinting in Dumbledore's eye.