When Shields Go Up

The young order had gathered inside the room of requirement, eagerly anticipating what Frank was going to teach them next. After they had all managed to get the disarming spell down, Frank announced that it was time for something new.

'The shield charm,' Frank started off with, 'is a charm that can block most common spells that are cast at you, if done correctly.'

He picked Severus out of the crowd to set an example. 'Severus, I want to ask you to cast a disarming spell at me, I will try to block it using the spell that comes with it. Now remember,' he said to the group, 'the wand movement is a downwards stroke.'

Severus took his stance opposite of Frank, ready to cast a non-verbal disarming spell at him. A flash of red light shot out of his wand and Frank yelled 'Protego!' causing a blue light to reflect around him and bounce Severus's spell off to a wall.

'Think you can do it the other way around, Severus?' Frank asked him.

Severus nodded, trying to suppress a smirk on his face. If there was one thing he was particularly good at, it was blocking things out.

Frank aimed his wand at Severus and yelled 'expelliarmus!'

Severus blocked it, only the spell he cast was much too powerful, knocking not only Frank's spell away but also everyone in the room off their feet.

'Holy shit Sev,' Lily said as she pushed herself back on her feet. 'How did you do that?'

Everyone was looking at him with wide eyes. For once, this was something he could not easily make up a lie about.

'Yeah Snape, how did you do it?' Rosier asked with curiosity.

'I—I don't know,' he muttered.

'Are you sure you didn't use protego maxima?' Frank asked him. 'Because this didn't look like any regular protection spell.'

'I really don't know,' he said softly. 'I'll go sit down and watch.'

He flopped himself down on a pile of pillows, lost as to why a simple shield charm had such on impact on him being attacked.

The six of them formed pairs to practice the spell, but that didn't stop Lily from looking over in his direction in a distrusting manner. He knew he was going to have to explain things to her one way or another. Sitting down while looking at the rest of them practice was only buying him more time to think of a good excuse to come up with.

Putting Frank in charge wasn't big enough of a distraction as he had hoped it would be. He had to tone it down somehow to avoid these kinds of incidents.

After Frank called it quits, Severus tried to walk it off by quickly heading his way towards Dumbledore's office.

'Not so fast Severus,' Lily snapped as she ran after him. She quickly jumped in front of him and forced him to stop walking. 'Where do you think you're going?'

'Dumbledore's office, I need to speak with him.'

'You owe me an explanation mister,' she said angrily.

'Look, I promise I'll tell you everything,' said Severus as he tried to walk around her. 'But I need to speak with Dumbledore first.'

'Not so fast,' Lily said as she placed her right hand on his chest to stop him.

'Could you please wait for me in our potions lab,' he said as he placed his left hand over her right.

'No, I'm going to spend the rest of the afternoon with Alice and Mary so please, just tell me instead of making me wait in suspense.'

Severus looked around to see if anyone was still in the corridor. He saw Rosier standing a few feet behind him, probably unsure whether to pass their quarrel or not.

'Anywhere you need to go, Rosier?' Severus asked him.

'Dumbledore actually,' Rosier said a little timidly. 'And so are you if I heard you correctly.'

'Just go, I'll meet you there.'

Rosier started walking down the corridor until he reached the stone gargoyle and disappeared from sight.

'Lily,' he said, still holding on to her hand on his chest. 'It's not the first time that I've had to protect myself. Of all people, I thought you would understand.'

He hated bouncing the ball back at her, but the last thing he wanted was for her to get mad at him.

Lily let out a sigh. 'You're not still being teased are you?'

'If you mean the marauders still trying to occasionally hex me to smithereens then yes, they do, but that's not what I meant.'

'Then what it is that you mean?'

Severus leaned in closer to her and lowered his voice. 'You know, my father.'

At that, Lily nodded in understanding. 'I'm sorry,' she said as she held her head down. 'I should've thought of that.'

He lifted up her chin with his free hand. 'Don't be sorry. What I did there wasn't normal.'

Lily took a step back. 'Want to go to the potions lab after dinner?'

'Are you sure you don't want to spend more time with your friends?'

'It can wait, and besides, I think your truth serum needs a little stirring up.'

He could still feel the imprint of her hand on his chest as she walked away down the staircase. Feeling a little lighter in his heart, he followed Rosier's footsteps and went up the spiral staircase after the gargoyle stepped aside.

Once he entered Dumbledore's office, the last thing he had expected to see was a weeping Rosier slumped over Dumbledore's desk.

Dumbledore had already conjured a pot of tea on the table and a handkerchief for him. 'Good afternoon Mister Snape,' Dumbledore said without taking his eyes of Rosier. 'What brings you here?'

'There was something I wanted to discuss concerning a friend of yours, but it seems that this is a more important matter for now.'

'Would you be okay if Mister Snape came to join us at the desk?' Dumbledore asked Rosier.

Rosier nodded as he blew his nose in the handkerchief he was given. 'I don't mind.'

Severus sat down in the empty chair beside Rosier and felt awkward as he never quite knew what to do when someone was crying.

'My family is onto me, Snape,' said Rosier in a trembling voice. 'They know I'm distancing myself from my friends.'

'What is it you fear most?' Severus asked calmly.

'That my family will shun me if they find out I'm turning against everything they stand for.'

'Do you think they'll kick you out if they find out?'

'It's not getting kicked out of the house that I'm afraid of,' he said as he wiped away a tear. 'It's the fact that I will become a target the moment they find out. I know too much Snape. I know way too much about the cause.'

Severus looked up at Dumbledore, who seemed a little forlorn at the situation. 'Headmaster,' Severus said. 'Is there a way that you can teach him occlumency?'

Rosier looked a little confused. 'What's that?'

It was Dumbledore who spoke. 'Are you familiar with legilimency Mister Rosier?'

Rosier shook his head.

'Legilimency is, shall we say, a technique to force your way into someone's mind, in search for information that might be stored in someone's memories.'

Rosier looked a little shocked at what Dumbledore told him. 'I didn't know that was even possible.'

'I'm afraid so, but very few people have the gift to do it without raising suspicion. Lord Voldemort being one of them.'

Rosier twitched a little at the mention of the Dark Lord's name. 'Do you think he could try to do that to me headmaster?' Rosier asked in a small voice.

'Yes, and that is why Mister Snape suggested that you'd learn occlumency with me. It is a way to shut your mind off from any unwanted forces that are trying to break in.'

For what must have been the first time since Rosier's confession, his face showed a spark of hope.

'Would you really do that for me?'

'I would and I suggest we start as early as next week to prepare you at least a little before you return home for Christmas.'

Rosier let out a sigh of relief. 'Thank you headmaster, I really appreciate that.'

'Now, is there anything else I can help you with?'

Rosier shook is head and drained his tea in one gulp. 'No, I think I've said everything I needed to say.'

Rosier stood up and prepared to leave. 'Can you wait for me downstairs in the corridor?' Severus asked him. 'This won't take long and I'll come and have dinner with you.'

'I can wait,' Rosier said. 'Thank you headmaster.'

Dumbledore smiled as he watched Rosier leave the office, but his face fell as soon as Rosier closed the door. 'So many families are being torn apart over this war,' he said with a grave voice. 'But I suppose that is not why you are here.'

'No headmaster, I only came here with a suggestion.'

'Go on.'

'I am aware that your friend Nicolas Flamel has created the Philosopher's stone and has therefore lived an extraordinary long life.'

'And what is it that you are implying?'

'The Dark Lord will go after it at some point. Now I don't think it's necessary for it to be destroyed, but I do suggest that Mister Flamel find a place to hide his creation.'

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled a little. 'I shall go write him a letter right after you leave about your suggestion. I'm sure he'll understand.'

'Thank you, sir, that's all I wanted to say for now.'

Severus stood up in order to leave.

'Before you go Mister Snape, how is that potion you're creating with Mister Belby progressing?'

'So-so. I'm still waiting on a message from him, but I think I've got a good supply of useful ingredients. I hope to have it figured out with him after Christmas.'

Dumbledore looked pleased with his answer. 'Is there anything else you wish to say before we part our ways?'

Severus shook his head. 'Although, there is a giant basilisk living down in the castle's sewers in case you're interested in that,' he said nonchalantly.

That seemed to make Dumbledore laugh. 'If there truly is a basilisk down there, I suggest we keep it where it wants to be.'