"Hey, Hermione. What does 'ven-er-able' mean?"

Hermione didn't even look up from her Arithmancy text. "Respectable," she answered distractedly.

"Oh." Harry frowned at the book he held in his hands. "Thanks. Um. How about, 'nas-cen-ery'?"

"Birth, or beginning. Really, what are you reading that has that sort of vocabulary, Harry?" Hermione set down her own book with a frustrated sigh.

"Um." Harry gripped his book tighter. "Just something Snape gave me to read for our next lesson. He's teaching me some new things. But the book's a bit confusing. I don't really understand a whole lot of it, so far."

Hermione ripped the book from Harry's hands before he could protest. "Occlumency: an Exhaustive Commentary for the Novice Occlumens," she read its title aloud.

Ron looked up from his own homework. "Occlum-whaty? Never heard of it."

Hermione squealed loudly. "Harry! You're learning Occlumency too? That's such advanced magic! Oh, I'm so jealous!"

And she looked it too. Bouncing up and down in her seat, she cracked open the book and began to flip eagerly through its pages.

Ron frowned and craned his neck, trying to peer over Hermione's shoulder. "What the hell is Occlumency, then? And why are you learning it?"

Harry shrugged. "Uh- I don't really know how to explain it. I don't really get it myself. It's like- some sort of magic you do to… protect your mind, I suppose? Snape's going to try and teach me. He thinks it might help my- uh, nightmares." Harry flushed, voice trailing off as he glanced around the library to see if anyone nearby was listening.

Ron nodded thoughtfully. "Oh. Alright then. Whatever helps, mate."

"Oh, Harry. What can you do so far? Have you learned any of the seven principal blocking techniques? You'll try and teach me, won't you?"

"Um, I guess," Harry agreed hesitantly. "But I haven't really learned anything yet. Snape just lectured a bit and gave me that book to read for our next lesson. We haven't started any real practicing."

"Ooo! You'll let me borrow it when you're done?" Hermione gripped the book possessively.

"Sure. I haven't even made it past the introduction though," Harry admitted. "I don't understand half the words."

Hermione frowned and flipped back to the beginning of the book. "Occlumency, ever the venerable and antiquated craft- its origins emanating ere the nascenery of neoteric magic," she read the first sentence aloud.

"See," Harry sighed. "Makes absolutely no sense."

"Occlumency is both respectable and ancient, originating even before the birth of modern magic," Hermione translated, tracing her finger across the line of text.

"Well, why can't they just bloody say that?" Harry moaned dishearteningly, sinking back in his seat. "Between all the Potions work we have to catch up on, and now this book, I'll never finish everything!"

Ron nodded sympathetically. "You know, Hermione. If you'd just let us copy your Potions essay, things would be a whole lot simpler."

Hermione scowled. "You'll never learn if I let you copy everything. Besides, do you really think Professor Snape wouldn't notice?"

"Fair point," Ron admitted. "Man's got eyes like a ruddy owl. They see everything."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Anyway. Do you want me to talk you through the first few chapters, Harry? I don't mind. I'm just working ahead in Arithmancy, and this looks much more interesting."

"Um, sure," Harry agreed. He wasn't too excited about learning Occlumency, in all honesty. From what Snape had told him, and what little he'd read about it so far, Occlumency sounded both boring and difficult. But if it helped with his nightmares, Harry was definitely willing to try. Plus, if he did learn it, then maybe Snape would agree to restart his Patronus lessons. That's what Harry really wanted, anyhow.

Hermione beamed. "Let's start now!" she insisted, scooting her chair next to Harry's. "Oh, isn't magic just fascinating?"

That night, Harry dreamed for the first time in over a week.

He woke mid night, sweaty and shaking, bolting upright in bed as he fought his way from the throes of a nightmare.

Panting, Harry swept a hand across his sweaty brow. Already, his memories of the nightmare were fading. He couldn't quite remember what he'd been dreaming about, though he knew instinctively that it'd been something horrible. His pounding heart and queasy stomach betrayed that much. Even so, he much preferred these fragmented sort of dreams to the overly realistic types he'd been having recently.

Plopping down in bed, Harry dug under his pillow to retrieve his wand. Waving it in the air, he was relieved to see that his silencing spells had held. He had taken to casting them again since his return from the Hospital Wing, just in case the nightmares returned. Now, he was glad he'd had the foresight to do so. Really though, he'd been lucky to avoid having a nightmare for this long, Harry reasoned. One bad dream a week was way better than having one every single night.

Harry frowned and rolled over in bed, trying hard to turn his thoughts elsewhere. Screwing his eyes shut, he struggled to fall back asleep. It was a good thing he didn't have any sleeping potions lying around, Harry reckoned. He would give his wand-arm right about now for a dose of Dreamless Sleep.

Pulling his blankets over his head, Harry exhaled shakily. Merlin, Snape was right. He really was dependent on potions to help him sleep. He hoped that Occlumency would help with his nightmares and subsequent insomnia, or else he was in some serious trouble.

He was set to have his first Occlumency lesson with Snape tomorrow, and Harry couldn't help but feel anxious about it. He had managed to struggle through the first quarter of the Occlumency book, and though Hermione's translations had helped, he still didn't feel like he really understood anything. He'd even attempted a few of the mind-clearing exercises the book suggested at Hermione's prompting, but even that had just left him feeling confused and frustrated. How was he supposed to clear his mind on command, just like that? The book made it sound so easy...

What if it was like Snape had said, and he simply wasn't gifted in the art of mind magic? What if he was bound to be terrible at Occlumency, and this was all just a gigantic waste of time? What if he never managed to learn Occlumency, or if he did learn but it didn't help anything, and he was destined to have these godawful nightmares for the rest of his life?

Harry groaned aloud, burying his face into his pillow. All these 'what-ifs' were enough to drive him mental. He supposed it was good he had his first lesson tomorrow- less time for him to dwell on things. Hopefully Snape could make more sense of Occlumency than the stupid book could.

The next evening, Harry met Snape at their normally scheduled lesson time. He didn't really know what learning Occlumency entailed, or what he might need for their lesson, so he'd brought along his wand and the Occlumency book, just in case. After all, it was always best to be over prepared when it came to Snape.

"Ah. You've finished it, then," was the first thing Snape said when Harry entered his office. At Harry's look of confusion, the professor gave a pointed nod at the book in his hands.

Harry flushed, setting the book down a nearby table. "Um, not exactly," he replied, sinking into the chair across from Snape's desk. "I mean, I tried. I read some of it. Made it through three or four chapters, but I only had a few days. And it's really confusing," Harry admitted, shrugging rather helplessly.

He half expected Snape to make some sort of snide comment, but to Harry's surprise, the man merely inclined his head in acknowledgement. "It is, admittedly, an outdated text. Unfortunately, it is one of the better available options. Occlumency is rarely studied or taught anymore, so texts on the matter can be a bit... difficult to decipher."

Harry smiled hesitantly. "That's one way of putting things. Even Hermione had trouble understanding some of it, and that's saying something."

"Indeed," Snape replied dryly. "At any rate, I thought it may provide some base of understanding for you, though these lessons should serve more useful, I would hope."

"Yeah," Harry agreed with a shrug. "I guess. I tried some of those- uh, exercises- the book talked about. Like that meditation thingy that's supposed to help clear your mind. But it didn't work right. It doesn't make any sense."

Snape raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"

"Er- well," Harry stammered. "I mean- the book talked about clearing your mind. And about meditation helping with it. But how can I be expected to think about nothing at the drop of a hat? I mean, I'm always thinking about something. It's not natural to think about nothing at all- for your mind to be... well, blank." Harry frowned, struggling to voice his thoughts out loud.

Snape pursed his lips. "Fundamental mind anchorage, or as you so eloquently put it, 'that meditation thingy', is a bit more complicated than that. But I do admit that the book gives a rather generalized impression."

Harry frowned. "Well, what does it mean, then?"

Snape drummed his fingers on the desk, looking thoughtful. "It is one of the principal techniques of Occlumency, and the base for many forms of mind magic. It is a form of meditation which assists in focusing and honing the mind, thereby allowing for more advanced Occlumency techniques, such as placing mental blocks, or protecting against mental attacks. It does involve clearing your mind, in a way. Through focusing and meditating intensely on a sole object or concept, other thoughts, emotions, and memories are subdued. It is less about outright repression and more about... exerting control."

Harry must have looked as confused as he felt, because in the next moment, Snape was sighing and rubbing a hand across his face. "It is difficult to put into words," the professor admitted. "Occlumency is such an introverted, intuitive type of magic. Those with an affinity for it, like myself, hardly need instruction. It is more of a... birthright, you could say."

"Well, I don't think that's the case for me, Professor," Harry sighed, sinking back in his chair dejectedly.

"Perhaps not," Snape conceded. "Which is why I believe practical application is our best means to success."

Harry frowned. "What do you mean?"

"It means that you will be learning by actively doing. Try to think of it this way," Snape further explained at Harry's blank look. "When learning a new spell, you can learn its origins and incantation and wandwork flawlessly. But that hardly means you know the spell, does it?"

"No." Harry's head was beginning to ache from the onslaught of new information. "I guess not. I mean, it's like with the Patronus charm, right? I know how to do it, technically speaking, but that doesn't mean I can. That's why I needed the lessons."

"Precisely. It is only through doing that one is able to truly learn a spell. Occlumency is similar in that regard- you must train your mind and actively practice the techniques if you have any hope of mastering it."

"Alright," Harry agreed slowly. "That makes sense. But how are you going to teach, then? I mean, it's not like you can really show me what to do, or even tell me if I'm doing it right. It's not like casting spells- it's all in my head, after all."

Snape folded his hands under his chin, dark eyes appraising. "There is a way," the professor spoke after a moment, seemingly choosing his words carefully. "A method in which I believe we may have success. But I would need your consent, as it can be a rather... intimate experience."

The back of Harry's neck prickled uncomfortably. Something in the professor's tone was deeply unsettling to him. "What do you mean?" he asked after a moment of tense silence, uncertainty ringing heavy in his voice.

"I can enter your mind," Snape spoke bluntly. "I can use Legilimency to enter your mind, and thereby actively assess and test your Occlumency skills."

Harry felt his eyes grow wide in alarm. "What- you mean, like, read my mind?" His stomach clenched at the mere idea. "You've got to be joking!"

Snape stared at him, unblinking. "I assure you, I am quite serious."

Harry shook his head in disbelief. "No. No bloody way. I don't want you in my head!" In his panic, the words came out harsher than he'd intended.

Something seemed to shift in Snape's face. "I'm not overly fond of the idea either, Potter," he spat after a moment, voice tight. "However, I am not suggesting it for pleasure's sake. It is the most practical- nay, the only method for me to successfully teach you. Otherwise we'll be floundering in the dark. There is no way to assess your progress without allowing me access to your mind."

Harry's head spun. Struggling to calm his nerves, he clenched his fists tightly. "But- you would be reading my mind, right? Like, you would see everything that I'm thinking about?"

Snape nodded tersely. "A gross oversimplification, but that is the general idea of Legilimency."

Harry felt ill. "But, I don't want you in my mind! Some stuff is private, you know." He felt himself flush with embarrassment.

Across from him, Snape appeared to be struggling to maintain his decorum. "Rest assured, Mr. Potter. Anything I may incidentally see during these lessons will remain between us. I am hardly eager to go around sharing your teenage woes with my colleagues."

Harry scowled, face burning. "I still don't like the idea," he huffed, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You have made me well aware of that fact," Snape replied shortly, eyes narrowed. "However, there is no practical alternative. If you want to successfully learn Occlumency, this is the only feasible method for doing so."

Harry bit his lip, avoiding Snape's gaze. He did want to learn Occlumency. And if it helped get his nightmares under control, it would be well worth the trial and effort. But the idea of having Snape, of having anyone inside his mind…

The professor seemed to sense his conflict. "Harry," Snape addressed him directly, suddenly completely serious. "All jesting aside, I do promise to be discreet. I will not go searching through your memories, nor hold anything I may see against you. Have I given you reason not to trust me?"

Harry paused. In the past, he would have never considered letting Snape inside his mind. But now… he wasn't fond of the idea by any means. But Snape was right- recently, the professor hadn't given Harry any reason to doubt him. He had saved his life, and seemed to genuinely care about helping with his nightmares. And his reasoning did make sense. If this really was the only way to learn Occlumency and stop the nightmares…

"Alright," Harry agreed hesitantly. "Fine. Yeah. Let's do it. I haven't really got much of a choice, do I?"

Snape hummed softly, his eyes shadowed. "There is always a choice. I will not enter your mind without your overt consent. Learning Occlumency is not a necessity. If you are truly adverse to the idea, we do not have to continue with these lessons. I will not have you play the role of martyr. Not in this manner."

Harry visibly deflated. "Yeah, I get it, Professor. But I really do need to learn Occlumency. You say it's a choice, but it really isn't- not for me. I can't live with these nightmares forever. So, yeah. I consent, or whatever it is you want me to say. You can enter my mind and use that Legilimency thingy. If this is my best chance of learning Occlumency, then I'll do whatever it takes."

Across the desk, Snape gave a curt nod. "Very well. Then, let us begin." Suddenly all business, Snape abruptly broke eye contact with Harry and stood, casting a few quick spells to push his desk back against the office wall. Conjuring a second chair, he took a seat directly across from Harry.

Swallowing harshly, Harry visibly tensed as he eyed the wand Snape held in his hand. Dread settled heavily in his stomach. Merlin, he really wasn't looking forward to this.

"Relax," Snape instructed firmly. "I'll give you fair warning before casting anything. But first, I need to instruct you on what to do."

"Ok." Harry forced his shoulders to relax minutely. "Alright. What's first?"

"We'll need to work on meditation before anything else," Snape replied. "It is the base of all Occlumency. As I mentioned earlier, one of the primary techniques is known as mind anchorage. This was discussed in detail in the first few chapters of the book."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, that was the thing I tried to do. The one that didn't really work."

Snape frowned. "It is something you will need to master if we have any hope of progressing further. Once you find imagery that works for you, it should come fairly naturally."

"Um, ok," Harry replied doubtfully. "But- what do I do? I mean, I read about it. But like I said, I didn't really get it. All that 'clearing your mind' business just seems strange to me."

"Perhaps we should disregard the text entirely," Snape sighed, looking rather pained. "If that is the impression it has given you. Mind anchorage is a form of meditation. It involves meditating on one specific thing. This varies from person to person. Some people pick a familiar object to focus on. Sometimes it is a more general phenomenon, such as fog, or fire, or something to that effect. Others find the best results through meditating on a certain feeling, or emotion. The difficult part is finding what works best for you."

Harry nodded. That made a whole lot more sense than the way the book had explained it. "Alright, but what does that accomplish?"

"The meditation focuses your mind on one singular thing. You are in conscious control of your thoughts, that way," Snape explained. "It is difficult to put in words, but once you are successful in the meditation, you will understand its implications. The control it allots is critical for success in Occlumency."

"I guess that kind of makes sense. So, how do I know what to meditate on?"

"Trial and error," Snape replied candidly. "I can offer suggestions- common imagery that works for some. But in the end, you know yourself best. Trust your instincts. Try whatever feels right. Eventually, you will find what works for you."

Surprisingly sound advice, coming from Snape. "What should I try first?" Harry asked after a moment of contemplation. Hell if he had any idea of what imagery to choose. All this Occlumency stuff was so strange and foreign to him.

"Overall, the most common anchorage technique involves focusing on a specific object. Something real and concrete. Many people find more success with this as opposed to meditating on something more conceptual, such as an emotion or feeling."

"What sort of object?"

"It needs to be something you can easily picture in your mind, but the specifics do not matter," Snape explained. "It can be a rock, a quill, your wand, a piece of jewelry, a burning candle. It can be a mundane or treasured possession. People have success with both. Some even meditate whilst picturing a specific person- though that is much less common. But it needs to be something real and tangible, if you are using this specific technique."

"That doesn't really help narrow things down," Harry frowned. "So really, I could picture anything."

"Yes," Snape admitted. "To an extent. It is not an exact science."

Harry sighed. Merlin, half of this stuff was going straight over his head. "Well," he pondered, glancing around the office. "I guess... I'll try picturing my wand," he decided, choosing the first familiar object he saw. His holly wand lay resting on Snape's desk in the corner of the room.

"Very well." Snape nodded, gripping his own wand tighter. "Close your eyes. Picture it in your mind, as clearly and as detailed as you can. Then, focus intently on that image, and think of nothing else."

Exhaling shakily, Harry leaned back in his chair and did as the professor instructed. Clamping his eyes shut, he tried to picture his wand. It was surprisingly difficult to do, considering he used the bloody thing every single day. "Alright," he spoke after a moment, keeping his eyes tightly closed.

"Now, focus on that image," he heard Snape speak. "And clear your mind of all other thoughts."

Harry tried, but doing so was easier said than done. Brow furrowing in concentration, his head ached from the intensity of his efforts.

He heard a rustle of robes across from him. "Do not panic," Snape spoke after a moment, his voice closer now. "I am going to enter your mind. Try not to fight me. The sensation can be a bit unsettling, at first."

Harry's heart pounded in his chest. He gripped his trousers with sweaty fingers, trying hard to focus solely on his imagery and not on his mounting panic.

He felt a gentle pressure on his forehead as Snape's wand pressed against his temple. And then-

"Legilimens."

He sits by the Great Lake, Ron and Hermione by his side. The sun is bright and warm, the grass prickly against his bare feet. Laughter at an innocuous joke made by Ron, and then-

A quill scratches against parchment. Professor Binns lectures at the front of the classroom, voice monotone. He struggles to pay attention- really, as if the Goblin Rebellion could be any more boring-

He is laying in his bed, staring at the bed curtains. He yawns widely, exhausted, yet unable to fall asleep despite this. His head aches, his eyes burn from lack of sleep-

The smell of cooking bacon. He takes the spatula and flips the strips crackling in the frying pan. His stomach growls. He is so hungry- surely, he could sneak just one piece-

A rush of wind against his face. He cheeks feel chapped and raw, but he hardly cares. His heart pounds in exhilaration. He's seen it! The snitch is over there, next to the goal post-

The room is dark, pitch-black save for the strip of light peeking from under the door. He lies on his lumpy mattress, his boredom and hunger all consuming. Maybe he can sneak out, come nightfall-

Harry gasped, sucking in a long, shaky breath as he came harshly back to reality. Mind reeling, he allowed his head to fall backwards, slumping down in his chair. Staring at the ceiling with unblinking eyes, he struggled to catch his breath, panting as though he'd just run a marathon. "I- what-" he stammered, struggling to speak coherently. "What-"

"Hush," Snape interrupted. The professor's face filled his field of vision, black eyes surprisingly concerned. "Drink this."

Through bleary eyes, Harry recognized the vial Snape held as Pepper-up. He certainly felt as though he needed it. Reaching up with trembling fingers, he managed to grasp the vial and down the potion in one go.

"Thanks," he murmured, sitting upright as his fatigue eased and his trembling limbs steadied. Handing the empty vial back to Snape, he rubbed a hand against his aching forehead. "What was that?" he asked, struggling to gather his racing thoughts.

Snape hovered for a moment longer, standing nearby until Harry had managed to pull himself upright in his chair. Taking his own seat, the man looked uncharacteristically fatigued. "Those were your memories. Fragmented thoughts and recollections from your subconscious. I was not searching for anything specific, so your mind instinctively pushed forward pieces of random memories."

"Is it always that… intense?" Despite the Pepper-up, Harry still felt utterly spent from the brief experience.

"No," Snape replied. "The first time is always the worst. It will become easier as your mind grows further accustomed to external penetration. As your mind becomes accustomed to mine, specifically."

"Thank Merlin," Harry muttered under his breath. "My meditation didn't work, then?"

Snape shook his head. "If it had, I would have only seen your imagery, instead of your memories."

Dejected, Harry let out a defeated sort of sigh.

"Frankly, I would have been stunned had you managed it on your first try," Snape pointed out. "Like I said, finding imagery that works for you is largely trial and error. Do not allow yourself to become disheartened by one unsuccessful attempt."

Harry shrugged. "Yeah, I know. It's just kind of disappointing."

The professor inclined his head in acknowledgement. "Regardless, lamenting over your failures is hardly the method to success. Now, do you feel up to one more attempt, or shall we call it a day?"

Squaring his shoulders, Harry took a steadying breath and pushed his doubts aside. "No, I'm fine. I want to try again. You're right- the only way I'm going to learn is with practice."

Snape regarded him with discerning eyes. "Very well, Harry. Close your eyes and focus your mind once more. That's right. Legilimens."

So sorry for the slight delay on this chapter. Night shifts absolutely killed me this past week, and this chapter was kind of a bitch to write. I had to invent a whole lot of magical theory about Occlumency... Thank you so much for your continued support! Special thanks/shout-out to everyone who has taken the time to leave comments on this fic! I read and treasure each and every one of them, and your praise and encouragement are definitely what motivate me to keep writing! :)

If anyone is interested, I've also started another HP fic, a Harry/Draco post-war angst/romance multi-chapter piece. Go check it out if you're interested!