CHAPTER 14

A/N: Thanks for your votes, guys! Most of you would like me to continue updating in spite of book 7. On the other hand, a few reviewers pointed out that time would be needed to digest book 7. So here's a compromise: I'll go on "vacation" for three days, from the 21st July till 24th July (and on the evening of the 24th, I'll post the next chapter). This story is not over by a long stretch :-) And regardless of what happens in book 7 – our Potions Master will continue living in our fan fiction!

---

The next lessons with Snape were equally peaceable – peaceable if one was used to Snape's cold and distant demeanour and to the occasional snide sarcastic remark. Three lessons passed in this manner, with Harry industriously practising sign language and the more difficult kinds of non-verbal spells. Gryffindor was leading in Quidditch with Ginny Weasley as a Seeker; the weather, though cold, was ideal for outdoor romping. Snowballs, sledding, skating and building snowmen were popular activities. Everything seemed fine; but there was one large cloud on the horizon for Harry. He would resume Legilimency with Snape the next lesson. He told Hermione about his misgivings. She wrote back an e-mail insisting that he was perfectly capable of mastering Legilimency and to not allow Snape to do anything he didn't want. She and Ron had consulted the list of Hogsmeade outings Harry had sent them, that way they could see Ginny and Luna as well besides Harry, and repeat the first get-together they had spent before Harry's major nosebleed. They wanted to visit Hogsmeade soon. Harry wondered whether Snape and Dumbledore had also suffered from nosebleeds while they had learnt Legilimency. Maybe he could ask Snape. If he was in a "good" mood.

Harry trotted down to the dungeons in a gloomy frame of mind on Monday evening. His lessons has been permanently postponed to eight o'clock at night, which meant that he could at least eat supper beforehand with the Gryffindors in the Great Hall if he chose not to eat in his lonely quarters. Ginny cheered him up when he informed her what was awaiting him, piling more rice onto his plate as he nibbled dispiritedly at a chicken leg. He brushed his teeth afterwards, and now he was standing in front of Snape's office door. Then, with a deep breath, he wrapped his finger around the handle and stepped inside the room.

"Potter, you are five seconds late," Snape greeted him.

He made a sign of apology and occupied his usual chair, facing Snape, who was twirling his quill in his hands, his long fingers graceful as they moved.

"Tonight's program consists of sign language, non-verbal spells and Legilimency," he said softly. Harry's pulse became quicker at the last word. He didn't want to do Legilimency. It was even worse then Occlumency. He felt a barrier rise within him in protest at the very thought. Snape rose.

"Repetition," he said, and proceeded to interact with Harry by using a couple of basic signs. The silence of the communication only made Harry more nervous. Finally, they moved on to non-verbal spells – the moving and levitating of semi-liquids. Harry felt like throwing up when Snape said:

"Legilimency, Potter. Let us see how much you have forgotten. Draw out your wand."

Harry obeyed. His fingers left sweat marks on his wand, and he hoped Snape wouldn't notice.

"Begin," Snape commanded, his eyes boring into Harry's.

I can't, I can't, I just can't, Harry's mind protested.

"I am waiting, Potter," Snape whispered.

Harry bit his lip, then, with an enormous effort, complied, managing to maintain a steady grip on his wand while he repeated the chant in his head…Legilimens, legilimens, legilimens…

A sharp pain tore through his head, and his nose started bleeding immediately. His wand clattered to the floor as he tried to stem the crimson flood. Snape moved forwards quickly.

I'm sorry, I wonder when it will stop, the quill scribbled, travelling along with the parchment within Snape's field of view. He waved them away impatiently.

"Sit," he said in a surprisingly gentle tone, guiding Harry to the now familiar couch. Seeing how exhausted Harry looked, he proceeded to mop up the blood himself. Harry's green eyes widened a fraction, but he submitted to Snape's ministrations. Maybe Dumbledore had had an exceptionally severe talk with the surly Potions Master?

The black eyes glinted at Harry's expression.

"I am rather fond of this couch, Potter, and I don't want to waste a cleaning charm on it if you bleed all over the upholstery," he said bitingly.

Snape held the towel to Harry's nose until the bleeding stopped five minutes later. Their faces were quite close during this time. Harry examined Snape's features although he had known them for more than seven years. The arrogant lineaments were less intimidating in their current relaxed state, or maybe he had this impression because the tall wizard was not standing and towering over him. The thin mouth was less stern, even alluring in its shape; but for Harry, the eyes stood out. Large, mysterious and black, with the slender eyebrows arching above them and the long eyelashes throwing fringed shadows on the upper slopes of his high cheekbones. Harry was sure that he caught a subtle fragrance of cardamom from the thick hair. Was his sense of smell becoming sensitive as well?

Snape's eyes caught his.

"You do know that staring is rude, Potter? Where are your manners?"

Harry's cheeks became tinged with red and he abashedly studied his knees.

I need to go back to my bed, I feel so sleepy, he said after the nosebleed was over, trying to stand up. He swayed with tiredness and Snape supported him.

The black eyes and green ones met.

Please give me a minute, I need to steady myself.

Snape muttered something underneath his breath and hoisted him up in his arms.

Astonishment spread over Harry's face, but he did not protest, calmly holding on to Snape's neck instead. The quill and parchment followed them and returned to their owner's pocket. There were other ways Snape could have used to get him back to his quarters. Snape, however, silently carried him out of the dungeons. It was late at night, and it was very unlikely that they were going to encounter somebody. Their eyes met several times until Harry leant his head against him. There was something so trusting and spontaneous about the gesture that Snape had to draw a deep breath in order to suppress a sudden strange feeling in his chest.

He put Harry down on the sofa and turned to leave. Harry drew out his quill and parchment.

Don't you want to stay?

Snape looked at him haughtily.

"To baby-sit you and give you the attention you crave, Potter?"

I was just trying to be polite.

"I see."

Snape sat down next to him. His eyes fell on The Power of Telepathy, which had a lot of notes sticking out from between its pages. Harry missed the tiny smile which curved Snape's mouth for a moment.

Would you like something to drink or to eat?

"Your concern about my dieting habits is touching, Potter. No. Thank you." He didn't seem used to pronouncing the last two words on a frequent basis.

You are more patient in our lessons since those four weeks.

"I am willing to deviate from my usual teaching methods just in order to get rid of you after the term is over, Potter."

Silence fell over them again; and when Snape turned to look at Harry, he saw that the young man was half asleep.

"Potter, I think you need to go to bed."

Harry blinked and smiled sheepishly.

Thank you for carrying me all the way back.

Snape acknowledged his thanks with a slight inclination of his head.

"Don't forget to remove those ridiculous Muggle lenses from your eyes. You do know that your myopia can be corrected? Wizarding methods are vastly faster than Muggle eye correction surgery. The results are the same, if not superior."

I never thought of it. I am so used to glasses and to contact lenses, I don't care.

"True. You don't want your fan club increasing after all, I suppose."

Definitely not. I just want to be me. Harry. I've never really bothered about my appearance. The glasses are part of me. I'm quite fond of them, actually.

Snape looked at him expressionlessly.

Professor, did you also have nosebleeds when you learnt Legilimency?

"A few. None as strong as yours. I am not as overemotional as you are, after all."

How will I ever learn it?

"That is your problem, not mine, Potter."

Harry stared at him desperately.

I have to do it! How do others manage?

Snape shrugged.

"You have very obviously raised a barrier against Legilimency. I will have to discuss this with the Headmaster if you don't improve, Potter. Good night."

He rose and left.

Harry stared ahead of him.

What was his life coming to?

The next day, consolation arrived in the shape of the news that Enchanté was having a big do on the 14th February: a masked ball for everyone who was above the age of seventeen. Some of the seventh-years would attend as well. Even Harry, who was not too fond of big events, decided to participate. He had to let go of his worries in some way or the other.

---