Chapter Playlist:

- When the Darkness Comes ~ Colbie Calliat

Dumbledore's Army was improving with each lesson. Christmas was nearing, which meant break was nearing as well. The night before leave, Harry called the last meeting of 2014. He had us lined up and dueling in a way.

"Working hard is important, but there's something that matters even more: Believing in yourself." He walked around, encouraging us.

"Think of it this way. Every great wizard in history has started out as nothing more than what we are now: Students. If they can do it, why not us?"

"Expelliarmus." Neville called, flicking Padma Patil's wand out of her hand. I grinned at Neville. He had really improved. "Fantastic, Neville. Well done, man." Harry patted him on the back.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood in front of all of us. "So that's it for this lesson. Now, we're not gonna be meeting again until after the holidays. So just keep practicing on your own as best you can. And well done, everyone. Great, great work." I groaned. This had become so much fun I was sad that there was going to be a two week break.

Everyone grabbed their bag and went out the door. My bag under the Christmas tree, which the Room had placed there last week. "See you in the common room Harry." I smiled, waiting for Fred and George, who were giving him ideas to mess with Umbridge. They were horrid, but extremely awesome sounding.

I frowned as he rudely cut them off and walked over to Cho. They gave each other a weird look before walking with me. "He still likes her. She's kind of a nutter in my opinion." I grumbled under my breath. They chuckled. "Can you please use of one those on Umbridge? Preferably Puking Particles one." George grinned. "Filch was camped out in front of the door the last time and was waiting for us. We slipped him some chocolates that said they were from Umbridge. Full of Fever Fudge they were. You should've seen the way he looked when he though they were from her. Like a lovesick puppy."

I laughed loudly, enjoying the idea. I put an arm on Fred to steady me. "Oh...that is brilliant." I breathed. "When are you guys going to open up shop?" Fred shrugged, giving George the turn to talk. "Maybe next year. We have the money, thanks to Harry, we just need a bit more time to develop our products."

I nodded and turned towards the Fat Lady's Portrait. "Acid Pops." She opened the portrait and the three of us clambered through. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were waiting for me by the fireplace. "Night you two." They bid me goodnight and I sat down on a chair. "What's going on?"

"Harry went and snogged Cho." Hermione informed me. I raised my eyebrows. "Well, how was it?" Ron asked. "Wet. I mean, she was sort of crying." I grinned and joked, "That bad at it, are you?" He shot me a death look, only making me snicker.

"I'm sure Harry's kissing was more than satisfactory. Cho spends half her time crying these days." Hermione said to no one in particular. "You'd think a bit of snogging would cheer her up." Ron smirked. I chuckled quietly, laying back in the leather chair.

"Don't you understand how she must be feeling? Well, obviously she's feeling sad about Cedric and confused about liking Harry and guilty about kissing him. Conflicted because Umbridge might sack her mum from the Ministry and frightened of failing her OWLs because she's worrying about everything." Hermione rambled.

Ron, Harry, and I stared at her for a few seconds, before Ron said, "One person couldn't feel all that. They'd explode." "Just because you've got the emotional range of a teaspoon." Hermione retorted. There was silence for a minute before we all started laughing until our sides hurt. I don't know why or what was so funny but it felt nice. To hang out and laugh with friends, forgetting about Voldemort and the major problems looming over our heads. It felt...almost normal.

That night I had trouble sleeping. I tossed and turned, fidgeting every five seconds. Finally, an image came into view. It was dark and there were shelves of...crystal balls? A figure stood in front of my view, holding out a wand for light. A slithering sound came from the ground and I cautiously looked down.

I screamed loudly, but the figure and the snake ignored me. Holding a hand against my heart, trying to steady my pulse, I examined the snake. My eyes widen as I realized that a) It was Voldemort's snake, and b) It was going after the figure.

The figure turned around, hearing the slithering noise too, and I saw who it was. It was Mr. Weasley. The snake knocked down Mr. Weasley and started to bloody him up, biting and nipping at him. I shot up from bed and ran out the door, in my pajamas and barefooted.

I ran down the steps and to the boys' hallway to Harry, Ron, Seamus, and Neville's room and slammed the door open, scaring the crap out of everyone but Harry. I looked over at Harry and saw him watching me, sweaty and scared-looking.

"I had the same dream. Come on, we have to go to Dumbledore." I ordered Harry, getting him up. I grabbed Ron by the arm and ran to Professor McGonagall's office. There we told her everything in a nutshell and she rushed us to Dumbledore's office.

When we were in his office, he ordered McGonagall calmly to get the other Weasley children and bring them here. They came back in no less than 5 five minutes. I stood back and let Harry and Dumbledore play Q&A.

"In the dream, were you standing next to the victim or looking down at the scene?" Dumbledore asked, his back facing all of us. "Neither. It was like I...Will you please just tell me what's happening?" Harry replied, shaking. I put a comforting hand on his shoulder and rubbed him.

Dumbledore ignored him and walked up to a painting. "Everard, Arthur's on guard duty tonight. Make sure he's found by the right people." The man in the painting nodded and disappeared. "Sir." Harry pleaded. Again he ignored him, this time I frowned.

"Phineas," Dumbledore said to yet another painting, this one related to Sirius. "You must go to your portrait at Grimmauld Place. Tell them that Arthur Weasley is gravely injured and his children will be arriving there soon by Portkey." Phineas nodded and too disappeared.

Everard came back, drawing Dumbledore's attention to him. "They've got him, Albus. It was close, but they think he'll make it. What's more, the Dark Lord failed to acquire it." Dumbledore sighed, relieved. "Oh, thank goodness. Next we need to..."

"LOOK AT ME!" Harry roared, causing me to cower back. Dumbledore jerked around and studied Harry. He shot me a look over Harry's shoulder, one that made my stomach feel sick. Voldemort was trying to get to Harry! He looked as shocked as everyone else. "What's happening to me?" He mumbled.

Suddenly Snape was standing next to me, scaring me, which made me grab for my nonexistent sword. Again, dammit! He looked at me oddly before striding towards Dumbledore. "You wished to see me, headmaster?" Dumbledore looked from Harry to Snape. "Oh, Severus. I'm afraid we can't wait. Not even till the morning. Otherwise, we'll all be vulnerable."

Snape nodded and grabbed Harry by the arm and dragging him out. "Is he...?" I trailed off, hoping Dumbledore would get what I was trying to ask. He did and nodded. "Oh gosh." I moaned, cringing into my hands.

The Weasleys looked at me and Dumbledore, very confused. Dumbledore walked to his desk, probably getting the Weasleys' Portkey ready. "Laurel, would you mind waiting here until I'm done with the Weasleys?"

I nodded and sat down in a chair, curling into a ball. The headmaster walked far back into his office, basically leaving me with the red-headed lot. "I'm sure he'll be okay." I said softly, shooting them all a sympathetic look. They all smiled weakly and watched as Dumbledore set down their Portkey.

When they had left, Dumbledore sighed loudly and sat behind his desk. A comfortable silence fell between us for a few moments. "You don't know how much it hurts him to be shut out by you." I stated quietly. He looked up at me curiously. "What do you mean Miss Collins?"

I dropped my legs to the ground and elaborated. "Professor, he's hurting because you're blocking him out. That's all he's ever gotten for the last fourteen years of his life. Being shut out, hurt, starved. He needs to know you're going to help him through this hard time. Trust me, I know how hard and painful it is to try to keep Voldemort out of your head."

I thought I had won him over, but boy was I wrong. He shook his head, obviously disagreeing. "Laurel, that is what Severus is for. He is teaching Harry to use Occlumency, he is there for him. I will distract him, it is best that I ignore him."

"BUT YOU'RE WRONG! Professor Snape is possibly the worst choice to teach Harry. They hate each other with a burning passion. Almost as hateful as Snape and James himself! He will just act like his cold, mean self and it won't help him. He needs someone to encourage him!" I screeched, running out of patience. It was after all, three in the morning.

Dumbledore shook his head ands stood up, leading me out the door. "Fine. You want Harry to be encouraged? How about YOU! You can take Occlumency lessons from Professor Snape as well." He snapped, dragging me to the dungeons.

He shoved me to the floor in front of Snape's feet and said, "She'll be taking lessons as well. Since she wants Harry to be encouraged by someone soft!" I looked up at Snape and sat down next to Harry, fighting back tears.

"As I was saying until I was rudely interrupted," Snape shot me a venomous glare, making me look down involuntarily. Harry shot him a frosty glare back before resting a hand on my forearm. "In these lessons I will attempt to penetrate your mind. You will attempt to resist. How about you go first Miss Collins, since you like to interrupt so much."

"But sir, Harry needs it more than me, no offense." He shrugged as Snape rolled his eyes. "Fine. Prepare yourself Potter! Legilimens!" He pointed his wand at a gasping Harry.

I watched as Harry grimaced, obviously not doing a great job of shielding his mind. "Focus Potter." Snape growled. I bit my lip and waited for my turn.

When Harry's turn was over, he was sweating as much as he was when he awoke from the nightmare. I rubbed Harry's arm and then gripped the arms of my chair. "Let's see how long you'll last." Snape muttered before casting, "Legilimens!" I grunted and emptied my mind, squeezing my eyes shut, seeing Snape's cold, black eyes staring at me behind my eyelids. I could feel him trying to pry at my memories, but I wouldn't give in. If I could hold back Voldemort, I can hold back Snape.

It felt like trying to keep a door closed when someone was trying to push themselves in. Eventually he gave up, letting me rest. I groaned and rested my head back. I was sweating even harder than Harry. He looked at me, but said nothing. I guess that means I did good.

"Get out." He pointed to Harry, who scurried up the stairs rapidly. He looked back at me and drawled, "Who taught you Occlumency?" I thought for a moment and shook my head. "No one taught me. I just... figured it out I guess."

He scoffed and paced the room. "Please, no one can just 'figure out' Occlumency. You need practice and training." "Well, my practice was when Voldemort tried to penetrate my mind during that nightmare and I consider that training." I retorted.

I thought he was going to yell at me or take points away, but he turned so his back faced me and lowly ordered, "Get out Collins." I trudged up the stairs, but before he left my sight, I softly said, "Thank you Professor."

I could tell by the way he stiffened that he was taken aback by my gratitude. I slowly walked up the stairs to the main floor. Just before I opened the door, I could've sworn I heard quietly from the dungeons, "You're welcome."