Chapter XI: Breakthrough

Harry was too preoccupied during lunch to pay much attention to the sour looks Snape was shooting him. The Amulet of Time had the potential to fix all his past mistakes, and no one would be none the wiser to what he had done.

However, Harry faced a difficult decision – it was obvious that he would have to sneak into Malfoy Manor and locate the Amulet of Time, preferably without Lucius being there. But that would be near impossible as the man was set to return home the following morning.

Harry huffed internally, furiously trying to figure out a plan. He wished Ron and Hermione were with him so he could bounce ideas off of them. How would he get inside? If only he could make the enchantment on his face work outside of Snape's home…

Severus suddenly stood up and gestured for Harry to do the same. "If you will excuse us, Lucius." He said curtly.

"Oh? You're not going to keep your guest company?" Malfoy drawled lazily, although he didn't seem bothered by this in the slightest. Harry was willing to bet all his money that he only asked because he was being nosy.

"Unfortunately, I must tutor the boy in potions." Snape's brisk tone brooked no argument, and his hand clamped down on Harry's shoulder, steering him out the front door before he even registered what was happening.

"Do go easy on the boy, Severus!" he heard Lucius call just as the door swung shut. Harry tried to twist to shoot the man a glare, but Snape's grip was unrelenting ad stopped him from doing so.

Harry was forcibly marched down to the potion's lab at a frightening pace, before being thrust in none too gently. Finding his footing, Harry held up his hands in a placating gesture.

"It wasn't my fault! I did what you said sir, but Malfoy followed me down to the beach." Harry rushed to explain.

"And did you not think it wise to immediately leave his presence?" Snape asked slowly, as if he were talking to an idiot or a young child.

Harry frowned up at him, irritation flaring to life in his chest. "Yes, I tried that. But he had his wand and he wanted to chat. I didn't really have a choice."

"If you had simply stayed in your room like I had instructed –"

"How is that fair?" Harry challenged, "I have to stay cooped up inside just because Malfoy decided to turn up? I'm not even allowed a bit of fresh air?" Harry ran his fingers through his hair, retreating as far away from Snape as he could in an effort to calm himself down.

"Foolish boy, do not forget who Lucius Malfoy is!" Snape hissed, his eyes flashing. "Lucius is one of the closest aids to the Dark Lord. All you must do is slip up once before we find ourselves in a dangerous situation!"

"I know that! I'm not a child." Harry retorted, struggling not to raise his voice. Snape had inched closer and closer until he was bearing down on him, making Harry feel like a trapped animal. He needed to get out of the potions lab and think. He didn't have time for Snape's dramatics.

"Forgive me for not having much faith in you." Snape drawled, seemingly intent on dragging out the conversation, "but I know your track record, and most importantly I know you." He stood up at his full height, staring down past his nose at Harry in a way which infuriated him.

"You know nothing about me." Harry replied bitterly. Snape's obsidian eyes bored into his own for a moment before he sighed.

"Honestly Potter, you continue to astound me with your ineptitude." Snape glanced at an old clock on the wall. "Since you are here, you can begin the second part of your potions homework." Snape sent him an unpleasant smile, knowing that that was the last thing Harry would want to do.

XXXXX

By the time Harry had managed to escape the potions lab, he only had an hour left until dinner. He had spent the last five and a half hours brewing an Anti-Paralysis Potion, and it had been pure torture on account of the fact that Snape deemed it necessary that Harry redo the potion three times.

Okay, so I may have messed up the first time… Harry relented, cringing as he thought back to how he had burned a hole through the cauldron through his inaccuracy. Snape of course had been more than just displeased, although to Harry's surprise he didn't explode in anger like he thought he would. Instead, Snape had hurled two insults at him before bringing out a sturdier cauldron for him to use.

Harry had a sneaking suspicion that the only reason why Snape had been such a git was to waste the rest of his day and keep him away from Malfoy's meddling. Harry supposed he couldn't be too mad at the man for it, because in a roundabout way he was trying to keep him out of trouble, but still.

Without thinking, Harry let his feet lead him to the glade; it was twilight, and the dark orange sun made the surrounding trees appear black against the sky. Harry sat down heavily with his back against a tree, his legs aching from being on his feet for so long.

Closing his eyes, he took a moment to simply rest. Hedwig hooted from not too far away, swooping down to land on his shoulder gently. She started to affectionally nibble on his hair, causing Harry to break out in a grin.

"I know girl, it's all horrible and greasy isn't it? I guess that's what happens when you spend all day brewing potions." He ran his fingers over her snowy feathers, glad that he had at least one friend with him. Hedwig hooted softly in reply.

Harry's thoughts strayed back to the Amulet of Time; he briefly considered the idea of using Polyjuice Potion to get into Malfoy Manor, but who could he pretend to be? There was no one else around for miles and masquerading as Snape was definitely out of the question - Harry wasn't that suicidal.

That left only one other option: sneaking in. Harry was decidedly good at doing that, but he didn't have the foggiest idea where Malfoy Manor was, or how he would get there since he didn't know how to Apparate yet.

"I know what the next best thing is though girl, I could use my broom to fly there." Harry grinned at Hedwig, happy that he was starting to develop a solid plan. His broom was at Hogwarts though, but he was confident that all he had to do was write to Professor McGonagall and she would bring it with her when she next visited. Harry was again struck by inspiration as his thoughts wandered to Dobby – he knew where Malfoy Manor was.

Dobby was at Hogwarts though, but he had come to Surrey on numerous occasions during Harry's second year, so what would stop him from coming here now? Harry quickly glanced around before quietly calling for Dobby. He waited, barely able to breathe he felt so tense. Seconds turned into minutes with nothing to accompany Harry apart from the gentle rustling of the trees.

"Dobby, if you can hear me, I really need your help." Harry tried again, putting as much magical emphasis into his words as was possible. After a few more minutes Hedwig flew away into the trees, leaving Harry alone. Angry and feeling hopeless, Harry slammed his fist into a tree – he had been so certain that it would work.

"Harry Potter sir called for Dobby?" Harry spun around, a massive smile on his face.

"Dobby! It worked! I wasn't sure if you would hear me or not…"

Dobby sent Harry an impish grin, his large round eyes almost glowing. "Dobby will always hear Master Harry Potters call sir, because kind Harry made Dobby a free elf…" the way the small elf stared up at him with adoration in his eyes made Harry feel mildly uncomfortable, but he smiled kindly at the elf nevertheless.

"Do you know where Malfoy Manor is?" Harry asked straight to the point. He was aware that dinner was fast approaching, and soon Snape would be leaving the potions lab to go inside.

"Malfoy Manor?" Dobby asked slowly, his forehead creasing in worry. "Why does Harry Potter want to know where that is? No…no good comes from Malfoy Manor Harry sir, none at all –"

"Dobby, listen to me." Harry interrupted firmly. "It's important that you tell me where it is. I'm not going to go there; I just need to know it's location." He felt bad for lying to Dobby, but he didn't have time for the house elf's protests.

Dobby stared up at him dubiously, "Does Master Potter promise?"

"Yes." Dobby considered him for a few moments before clicking his fingers. Harry quirked an eyebrow but stood there patiently. Suddenly, a strange warmth began to trickle into his brain. In his minds eye he could see a tall, imposing manor lined with finely trimmed hedges and uniformly perfect flowers adorning the grounds. A tall, iron-wrought gate stood imposingly at the entrance to the grounds, with neatly trimmed grass seemingly spanning as far as the eye could see.

Harry gasped and stumbled onto his hands and knees as the foreign feeling left him.

"What was that?" Harry ask breathlessly.

"I told you before Mr Harry Potters sirs, house elf magic is old and powerful…we elves can do things that Wizards can't. Now Master Potter knows where Malfoy Manor is." Despite the worried look that accompanied his words, Dobby couldn't help but beam at Harry, glad that he had been able to help him.

"Thank you, Dobby, you're absolutely brilliant!" Harry glanced over his shoulder at the sound of the Potion's Lab door opening. "Go back to Hogwarts Dobby – and please don't tell anyone about our conversation." Dobby nodded solemnly, his large ears flopping before he silently disappeared.

Harry couldn't help the involuntary shudder at the sight of Snape stalking towards the house, his robes flying out behind him. He reminded Harry far too much of a Dementor, since his silhouette was jet black in the ever-darkening sky.

Once he was certain that the man had put a sizeable distance between them, Harry hurried towards the house. If he could sneak up to his room without Snape seeing him, he could come down for dinner and pretend he had been upstairs the entire time.

XXXXX

The following morning saw Lucius Malfoy leaving for his Manor bright and early. Harry watched from a hallway window, letting a sigh of relief escape his lips. He hadn't realised how on edge he had been feeling with the Malfoy patriarch being there. Harry couldn't help but feel a little disappointed about the previous night; the two older men had spent the entire evening after dinner hidden away in Snape's office, and despite his best efforts he was unable to listen in on their conversation. That clearly meant it had been an important discussion.

Harry wrapped his dressing gown around himself more securely before retreating to his bedroom. After a quick shower (where he was pleased to see his appearance had gone back to normal), he hurried downstairs to breakfast.

He turned round the corner into the kitchen and barrelled head-first into Professor Snape.

"Really Potter, can't you watch where you're going?" Snape scolded, steadying him before he could knock into something else and wreak havoc in the kitchen.

"Sorry sir." Harry made a move to sit at the table, but Snape held him in place. "Sir?" Harry questioned, instantly warily.

"No breakfast for you Potter until you have successfully thrown me from your mind." Snape declared.

"Occlumency?" Harry asked, surprised.

Snape rolled his eyes. "No Potter, I'm intending for us to pick flowers from the garden. Yes Occlumency, you foolish boy!" he snapped, although it was without venom. Harry sighed as he followed his Professor out of the house, throwing a longing glance over his shoulder at the kitchen.

They walked silently down to the clearing with Snape leading the way. Harry felt confident about their upcoming Occlumency session now that he knew what he needed to do. It helped that Snape seemed to be in rather a good mood that morning too. Perhaps he had also been feeling the weight of Malfoy's presence in the house.

"I will attempt to penetrate your mind," Snape said severely, "I will begin slowly, until I am confident that you have a firm grasp on the method."

Harry nodded, letting some of his surprise show on his face. What on earth was going on? Snape was actually being kind of decent.

"Err, okay." Harry mumbled, bracing himself for the attack.

"Legilimens!" The same usual memories were brought up in his minds eye, however they didn't flash past him at their usual dizzying pace. Instead they floated by almost lazily, an entirely new feeling for Harry. He found that it was like wading through water; he could manage to flick some of the weaker memories away, although ones with a stronger negative connotation he found harder to move.

Okay, think positive…you can do it. He thought of his first proper Christmas gift from Mrs Weasley, the thick woollen sweater with a giant red H emblazoned on the front of it. That memory never failed to inspire warm feelings in his chest. Just as Harry prepared to think of another memory, he found himself staring into the face of his Professor.

"What happened?" Harry asked, confused.

"I know you have a penchant for theatrical displays, which is probably why you're confused," Snape started, a hint of a sneer on his face, "but that was what you'd call a very controlled eviction from your mind."

"Oh." Harry grinned, pleased as punch. "I didn't realise it would be so easy."

"It was easy because I did not penetrate your mind deeply. I stayed at the surface level, where the memories are weaker." Snape explained. "Nonetheless Mr Potter, for your first attempt it was more than adequate." Harry's smile widened until it reached the corners of his eyes.

"Go deeper into my mind." He urged, riding the high of Snape's praise. "I can do it." Harry added, seeing the frown appear on Snape's face.

"It is essential that we establish a solid foundation with this technique." Snape started to pace, slipping into lecture mode. "As far as I am aware, this is an entirely new method of Occlumency – one that has not been studied or even utilised before."

"Perhaps I should write a book about this once I've perfected it." Harry replied playfully.

Snape arched an eyebrow, "Oh? And what would this book be called?"

"The Art of Occlumency – The Potter Method."

"How original," Snape smirked, "that's the best title you can come up with?"

"Can you come up with better?" Harry challenged, enjoying their banter.

Snape quirked an eyebrow but didn't reply to his question, something akin to a smile twisting his lips, although not quite. "Come, let us try again – I will stay at the surface level memories. I want you to dispel me from your mind calmly." Harry nodded, steely determination filling his veins.

For the next fifteen minutes mentor and student worked harmoniously; Harry soon found himself tiring though. He felt as if he had exhausted the happy memories he had and was struggling to think of new ones.

"Ah…I need a break." Harry muttered, breaking eye contact with Snape. He sat down heavily on the ground, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.

Snape frowned contemplatively. "How do you feel, Potter?"

"I'll be alright, I just need a moment." Harry felt like he had been running at a steady pace for last quarter of an hour. He felt weary and mentally exhausted, all he wanted to do was eat some breakfast and go for a nap. He stared up at Snape who regarded him silently.

"That'll be enough for now. We shall continue tonight after dinner." Snape swept past him in a flutter of robes towards the house, leaving Harry to scowl after him. Heaving himself up off the ground, he followed suit more slowly.

Harry mulled over Snape's words during breakfast, wondering about their implications. Maybe he just wasn't cut out for Occlumency? Snape was right – how could he be so tired after fifteen measly minutes?

Sorry Voldemort, need to take a quick half hour break and then you can continue breaking into my mind. Thanks mate. Harry snorted to himself, as if that would ever happen. If he could throw off the Imperious Curse then how come he struggled so much with Occlumency? He stabbed at his sausage viciously, chewing it without any thought for his knife.

Snape glared at Harry as the boy chewed his sausage straight off the fork. He was reminded of the rather unpleasant image of Ronald Weasley at the Gryffindor breakfast table, slobbering away over his food with reckless abandon. No matter how hard Severus tried, he was forced to suffer the red-head's appalling lack of table manners.

"Potter," he ground out after the teen's umpteenth sigh of annoyance, "if something is the matter, spit it out."

Harry glared at him moodily but said nothing.

"If you are incapable of speaking, I suggest you keep your insufferable huffing to yourself." Snape sent him a stern glare for added effect before picking up the Daily Prophet and leafing through it.

If Harry could glare holes through newspapers, he would have done so in that moment. He finished his food quickly but didn't immediately get up; he wanted to ask Snape about their Occlumency lesson. Harry knew that the man would have some idea on what caused Harry to tire so quickly. Plus, the young Gryffindor couldn't help but feel a bit worried. What did it all mean?

XXXXX

Snape grit his teeth, aware that Potter had finished eating but hadn't left the table. He was certain that if he peeked over his paper, he would see the boy sitting there glaring at him – not that Severus Snape ever peeked.

He sighed and folded his newspaper away. "Clearly you are going to sit there silently like a toddler until I pay attention to you – so out with it Potter. What's bothering you? Some of us want to go on with our lives." Snape repressed a gleeful smirk at Harry's deepening frown.

"I've been thinking about what you said in the glade sir –"

"That's a surprise. I assumed things went in one ear and straight out the other."

"- and I don't understand why I got tired so quickly. It doesn't make sense; I wasn't exerting that much effort. In fact, I was basically doing nothing." Potter stared up at him with stormy green eyes, and suddenly Snape was reminded of that painful night where he called Lily a Mudblood –

"You're right, Potter. I have several theories in the works regarding the method you use." Snape replied hoarsely. "The one I am leaning towards being most accurate is this; using the standard Occlumency method you are clearing your mind and becoming devoid of emotion, therefore you are not using much of your mental capabilities – not that you have much to begin with."

Focus Severus, you are here to help the boy not goad him. Severus found himself repeating this mantra more often than not. He just couldn't help himself when it came to the boy – all he could see was a miniature James Potter, and that inspired nothing but cruel words within him.

"You method, however, is the exact opposite of this."

"Oh! I think I understand sir." Harry said with startling clarity. "To constantly think of happy memories takes more…of an emotional toll? Which in turn means I'll get tired a lot more quickly than say you for example."

Perhaps he is not a complete idiot. Snape mused, reluctantly impressed. He forgets that the skill they are learning is exceedingly hard, and most fully grown Wizards could barely grasp the basics, let alone a fifteen year old child.

"Exactly, Mr Potter. It's also worth bearing in mind that cycling between the same happy memories is not only mentally taxing, but they also lose their emotional impact in a short space of time."

"Of course," Harry clenched his fists, "it all makes sense. This is bullshit!" he suddenly exploded. "Why can't I just learn it the normal way? It's hopeless, I won't last ten minutes against Voldemort. He won't be gentle like you've been – he'll dive straight into the deep end and leave me a cripple." Harry ended bitterly. Snape flinched at the use of the Dark Lord's name but didn't correct him.

"Mr Potter, need I remind you that you have successfully repelled the Dark Lord from your mind before at the Ministry? And what's more, that was an attempted possession. I am confident that we will find a way to work around this, given enough time." Snape stated confidently.

"But sir, what if we don't have enough time?" Harry looked up at him – and what was that expression in his eyes? Snape shifted, vaguely uncomfortable but unwilling to leave the boy stewing in his own misery.

"Despite your shortcomings – and by Merlin there are many – you will overcome this obstacle, Mr Potter. You are more than capable of mastering this skill if you apply your mind to it and work with me. I am not one for kind words of reassurance, but know that I don't say things I do not mean."

Harry's breath caught as he stared at his Professor unblinkingly, caught up in the intensity of the moment. It was nothing like what Dumbledore or Molly would have said to him, or even Professor McGonagall but…it felt like it was exactly what Harry needed to hear. He let out a shaky breath and offered his Professor a small but painfully genuine smile.

"Thank you, Professor." Feeling awkward and unsure of what to do with himself, Harry excused himself and fled to the sanctuary of his room, albeit feeling much more confident in himself.

Snape watched him leave with dark eyes, his newspaper long forgotten.