Chapter 11- Another Meeting of the Mind
During February, the Legilimens lessons went well. They had to have more than one lesson to train Hermione's mind to clear totally of thought. This was hard for her, as she "had alot going on up there" as Severus said. The last Wednesday of February, Severus was attempting to probe her mind, and she successfully blocked half the attempts. It was hard on her though. As she was new to this, it took a lot of energy to focus on the action of throwing him out of her mind. As she took yet another headache potion, Severus suggested that they rest.
"You are doing well," Severus said.
"It doesn't feel like it," Hermione said.
"You have, I have not seen many memories from you this evening, and the ones I do seem pleasant," Severus said.
"That's only because I've been doing what that book has said, making sure most of the memories I project are pleasant ones," Hermione said.
"What of the unpleasant ones?" Severus asked curiously.
"I push them back in my mind when you probe, or I already have them in pensives," Hermione said.
"Then I propose your first test, I will attempt to retrieve the memories you suppress," Severus said. "When you successfully eject me from your mind, we can move on to you probing my mind. You will pass this test if you can correctly identify the technique I use."
"Hmm, an adventure," she mused.
"You might not think that after," he said. "Are you ready?"
They sat in chairs across from each other. Hermione sat straight, hands in her lap, waiting for the feeling of someone in her head. Severus sat back, legs crossed, his chin resting on a hand biding his time to start. Suddenly he focused on her eyes and quickly probed. Hermione was caught off guard and her balloons were not inflating in time to block him. He saw an image of her in her second year when she turned herself into a cat. Hermione was frowning at the memory and her failing to block his mind. Her expression changed when Severus saw brief images of her and Travis in some of their more intimate moments. A balloon popped and Severus was thrust out of those memories. Hermione blew out a small breath and he continued. He next saw brief recollections of a fight of some sort, where Hermione, Travis and another person were casting spells and slashing with swords. Travis was run through with a sword, and Hermione was lying on the ground, holding her slashed throat with one hand while reaching out for Travis with the other.
Severus felt a sudden, blinding pain as he was pushed out of her mind when a brick wall appeared in front of him. He shook his head and looked at her. She was gripping the chair and had her chin on her chest.
"Are you all right?' he asked quietly.
"Yes, that was just hard," she said.
"But effective," Severus said. "Balloons to a brick wall, impressive."
"Can we take a break?" Hermione said.
"Of course," Severus said. "We can resume in twenty minutes."
Hermione nodded and walked quickly from the room, her cane loudly tapping the floor with each step. She wiped her eyes as she left. Ten minutes later, she came back, taking her seat and a cup of tea that he had placed on the table beside it. Severus sat down across from her again.
"I apologize if I distressed you," he said. "May I ask you a question, of a personal nature?"
"Sure," she shrugged.
"Why is the memory of that confrontation in your mind? Why have you not put it into a pensive?" he asked.
"I need it as a reminder," she said softly.
"I see," he said. A reminder of what? Really, I don't see.
"Now it's your turn," he said.
Hermione nodded and sat straight up in her chair, and Severus took the laid-back pose as before. She focused on seeing past his eyes and searching. For a brief moment, she saw herself and that awful Conover fellow walk into Helga's.
Why in the world would he be thinking of that? Hermione thought.
Then she saw nothing. Absolutely nothing. It was as if she was looking into a void, in all directions. She came back to herself and looked curiously at him. He had an eyebrow raised.
"There was nothing there," she said. She remembered something she read in the book and recited it.
"A rare occurrence, but a small percentage of highly skilled Legilimens can empty the mind of all thought," Hermione said.
"Correct. You have passed," he said and shook her hand. "Your pushed me from your mind, probed mine and identified the technique that I use. Minerva didn't get that far."
She clapped and took a few small hops in her chair. "My head didn't hurt that time."
"The more you do it, the easier it gets," he said.
"Yes, I noticed how you lounge in your chair and casually flit around my brain while I get a migraine and have to hold on to my chair," she said with a laugh. "What do I owe you?" she asked with a grin.
"Owe?' he asked.
"For these lessons," Hermione replied, gathering her things.
"Hermione, I was not expecting a thing in return," he said.
"But Severus, I-" she said and was interrupted.
This is my chance! he thought excitedly.
"Please, I insist, let me do something for you," Hermione said. "Is there some rare potion ingredient you need?"
"I have a better idea," he said. "You and Wesley, dinner, with me Friday night."
"Dinner?' she asked, surprised. "I suppose. All right. Where?"
"Let me surprise you," he said. Actually, he had no idea where they would go.
"Sounds fun, what time? I get home just after six," she said.
"I'll meet you at your home at seven, is that acceptable?" he asked.
"Acceptable, dinner it is. Thank you so much for this," she said, shaking his hand.
"My pleasure, Hermione," he said.