THE TRUTH REVEALED
CHAPTER 11
DISCLAIMER: All recognizeable portions, or the parts in bold, are Joanne K. Rowling's work, all the credit goes to her. I am not making any money or profit off of this work except as my pleasure in doing it, and all characters belong to JK Rowling.
The rest of the week went by smoothly enough, although Dumbledore called Harry into his office Wednsday night.
"Harry, Remus tells me that Professor Snape has stopped teaching you Occlumency?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, and good riddance, they were a-" Harry stopped short, not sure if Dumbledore would approve what he had been fixing to say.
"I think 'catastrophe' is the right word to use in this situation," Dumbledore smiled. "You do need to keep learning Occlumency, however, but as you and Professor Snape have such poor relations, and he has decided to stop teaching you, I think I shall have to carry on the job. How does that sound?"
"Well I wouldn't mind not having to have any more lessons with Snape, especially Occclumency," Harry shuddered, "but I don't like Occlumency lessons much of itself. I've no doubt that knowing how to do Occlumency is useful, I just don't like learning it."
"It is Professor Snape, Harry, but from what you've told me, Professor Snape did not do a very good job," Dumbledore observed.
"Yes, sir, he just said 'focus' and 'clear your mind' and then attacked without giving me any time. Of course, I'm sure you'll be a much better teacher, but I don't like the concept of someone-anyone-attacking my mind, even for training to ward that off," Harry told him, "although I'm not adverse to trying. I do have a question, why is me seeing into Voldemort's mind a bad thing? Like with Mr. Weasley, it's actually useful!" he protested.
"Harry, I have reason to believe that Voldemort knows of this connection." Dumbledore said gravely. "No, I do not mean that he can see into your mind," he said, as Harry looked likely to interrupt, "but he may show you false images to coax you out of the school. What would your reaction be, for example, if there was nobody from the Order at the school, and you had seen Mr. Weasley being tortured somewhere by Voldemort?"
"I would have gone after him," Harry responded in surprise. "Maybe Hermione woudl have convinced me to check up on them, but if they weren't home, I would certainly have gone after them if I'd known where they were."
"If it was a false image, and Voldemort was trying to lure you somewhere, and the person he was baiting you with was not actually at home, but gone for a different reason, Voldemort would have captured you easily, especially if you went alone-"
"Ron and Hermione would have come with me," Harry said with conviction. "I wouldn't force them in that situation, in no situation would I force them, but I'm sure they would insist on coming anyway. I understand the need for Occlumency though."
Dumbledore smiled. "We will meet every Thursday, is that alright Harry?"
"Yes, sir." Harry said. "Is that all?"
"Yes, Harry. You may go."
"-so Dumbledore will be teaching me Occlumency from now on," Harry finished. He had told Ron and Hermione about the Occlumency lessons change, and he was quite satisfied with it.
Thursday came, and Harry went up to Dumbledore's office at eight.
"Come in," Dumbledore responded at Harry's knock.
"Sir," Harry started hesitantly, "Could you explain more about Occlumency? The most Snape ever told me was teh clear my mind and focus, and I really don't understand."
Dumbledore sighed. "It's Professor Snape, Harry," he gently chastised, then went on to explain. "Occlumency requires that a person seeing into your mind would not see what they want to, in which case clearing your mind of everything would help, but any passing thought or emotion he could catch on and find what he wanted to. The mind is interlinked, Harry, and even thinking about what you had for breakfast that morning as a passing thought could spell disaster. However, if you focus on one image enough, anyone looking into your mind would see that one thing, and not be able to work around it. It does not have to be a specific memory or emotion, like with the Patronus Charm, but you need to be able to focus on it with all your might. It is hard enough to do when you know Legilimency is being used, but with practice it becomes easier, and then we will start working on doing it passively, like in your sleep. Professor Snape's version is the easiest for doing while you are asleep, but focusing on one thing long and hard helps you to stay awake." Dumbledore continued, "and the method we will be using will not provide instantaneous results, but in the meantime, you need a method of communication with the Order."
"Sirius gave me something over the Christmas break, said I could use it to talk to him if I needed to, maybe I could use that?"
"That would be wise," Dumbledore said. "Why hadn't you opened it yet?"
"I didn't want to be the one to possible call him out to yell at Umbridge or something. He'd get Kissed, and I don't want to be responsible for that," Harry said stoutly.
"Wise choice," Dumbledore remarked, eyes twinkling. "Now, why don't we get on with the lesson? Focus on one thing as hard as you can, and it would be best if you focus on somthing that you remember every detail for. Some find it easier to focus on something within sight, while others focus from memory. Whether it works better or worse depending on which method you use, I do not know."
"Yes, sir," Harry said, and cast his mind about for something to focus on. He thought of his room at the Burrow, and his dormitory in Gryffindor Tower, but he couldn't call it up in enough detail. Finally he settled on the dark corridor he kept dreaming about, he had certainly been in there enough to know all it's details. "Got it," he said aloud.
"Legilimens," Dumbledore muttered with his wand on Harry. Harry felt none of the unease he usually felt while practicing Occlumency, he didn't want Snape's wand on him for any purpose. It also helped that Harry knew what Dumbledore was doing.
His thoughts had trailed off thinking about that, rather than focusing, so the rush of memories being brought to the front at Dumbledore entering his mind reminded him of what he was supposed to be doing. He fought hard, but as it was virtually impossible to stop someone once they have entered your mind, your best bet was to keep them out first.
Mercifully, Dumbledore retreated as soon as he got in, rather than staying until Harry cast a spell like Snape did. He gave Harry time to collect himself and focus again, before repeating the process.
"I like Occlumency much better when Dumbledore teaches it," sighed Harry when he got back to the common room an hour later.
"How can a change of teacher make it easier?" Hermione asked skeptically.
"Change of teacher, in this instance, means change of method," Harry explained.
"Clearing your mind doesn't seem as difficult as another way..." Hermione stated.
"Have you ever tried clearing your mind of all thought, emotion, memory?" Harry demanded.
"Sounds impossible to me," Ron commented.
"That's why I never made any progress with Snape," Harry returned. "With the method Dumbledore teaches me, I focus on one thing as hard as I can, and the more details I can hold in focus the better."
"That makes sense, if he can't see anything but that when he gets in your mind, he can't see what he want's to see, unless the thing you're focusing on is what he wants to see," Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Whereas when you clear your mind, any passing thought or emotion he can latch onto, and go on to the rest of your mind."
"It's nearly impossible to stop him-or anyone-once they get in your mind. Keeping him out first is your best bet," Harry agreed, pulling a Charms essay out of his bag.
Author's Note
So sorry this took so long! I had to think up other ways of doing Occlumency, because really have you ever tried to clear your mind like that!?
Anyway, I promise I'll have a chapter up at least once a week. The extras will be saved for when I am too busy to keep up.
I would love some reviews about my work! I criticize enough people on spelling an grammar, you should so the same! Also if you see any plot holes, point them out and I'll try to find a way to work it in somehow.
I know I don't go into nearly as much descriptive detail and JKR does, but that's mainly because I am horrible at descibing things, and also because JKR did it first.
