Chaser 2 of the Appleby Arrows - uflesh940
QLCF Season 9 Round 4
Prompt: [Freak Show] must be the clear inspiration for the story
5. [setting] Forbidden Forest
9. [word] Priority
12. [word] monster
"Why haven't you succeeded in clearing your mind yet, Potter?" asked Snape.
"I can't," groaned Harry.
"Here's what I think, Potter," hissed Snape, "I think you aren't even trying. Do you want the Dark Lord within the confines of your mind, Potter?"
Harry averted his gaze.
"That's what I thought," said Snape. "You must be so proud after saving Arthur Weasley. Congratulations, Potter, you used your failed attempts at Occlumency to help save someone."
Before Harry could object, Snape continued.
"But tell me, do you really think spending your time trying to gain hints from the Dark Lord's mind is a good idea? You saved Arthur, yes, and perhaps you'll manage to save others too. But the truth of the matter is that you should be prioritizing. Tell me, Potter, what would happen if the Dark Lord grew sick of your meddling, and decided to retaliate? Tell me what you would do if he used your body as a puppet to slaughter those you care for the most? You need to think about your priorities, Potter. The Dark Lord has a direct link to your mind at this very moment! Is this really the time to be slacking on your lessons, and snooping around?
"Tell me Potter, do you honestly care so much for a couple of strangers that you would expose your mind to the Dark Lord? Do you prioritize the lives of others over your own sanity? You shouldn't, Potter. You could be a powerful wizard, you could be a mighty defender, you could even be good at potions if you simply had your priorities set straight. Now, clear your mind, boy!"
Harry stared at Snape, and Snape's following mental attacks were met with notably less success.
"I'll see you next Thursday." Snape abruptly dismissed him.
Harry nodded at him, and walked out of the room.
It was another day of Occlumency lessons. Snape faced Harry yet again.
"Now it's time to actually set up some defenses," said Snape.
Harry blinked. "Mental defenses?"
"Mental defenses, sir," corrected Snape.
"Mental defenses, sir," Harry responded, gritting his teeth.
"Very well," said Snape. "A good mental defense consists of a guardian, and a setting. The setting is generated automatically, but you'll have to stop the guardian by yourself."
"What is a guardian?" asked Harry, before adding a rushed "sir".
"A guardian," said Snape, "is meant to prevent others from entering your mind.
"Have you mastered your guardian?" asked Harry.
"Enough chatter," said Snape. "We will be entering your mind now."
The sensation was a strange one. Suddenly, both Harry and Snape were standing in the Forbidden Forest.
"How did we get here?" asked Harry, slightly panicked.
"We are within your mind, foolish boy," said Snape.
"Why is my mind built like the Forbidden Forest?" asked Harry.
"Sir," corrected Snape. "And the reason your mind is shaped like the Forbidden Forest is because you associate the Forbidden Forest with harshness and difficulty. Your mind tries to emulate that, and what you see here is the result. This is the 'setting' part of your mental defenses I spoke of earlier."
Harry nodded. "So where is the guardian?"
"It will be approaching you," said Snape. "Expect it to be here within a couple of minutes."
Several minutes later, Voldemort himself stepped into the clearing.
Harry paled, and Voldemort started laughing. He never actually attacked Harry, he simply stood there and laughed. Harry started hyperventilating, and suddenly, a loud, ringing noise began sounding throughout the mindscape. Harry and Snape both jolted awake. Snape silenced his ringing alarm clock
"I believe that is all for today," said Snape. "Enjoy your afternoon," he added as an afterthought.
Harry stumbled out of the classroom.
The alarm clock rang yet again, springing the duo out of Harry's mindscape.
Snape sighed. "We are getting nowhere like this, Potter."
Harry sighed, and nodded, exhausted.
Snape thought for a while. Then he reset his alarm, placed his wand in Harry's hand, grabbed Harry's hand, pointing it at himself, and muttered "Legilimens".
They appeared in Snape's mindscape this time, though it took a while for Harry to recognize it as such. It was the Forbidden Forest, like Harry's mindscape was, but this was much deeper in.
"You have the same mindscape as me," said Harry.
Snape nodded. "I also associate the Forbidden Forest with great difficulty."
A couple minutes later, Snape's guardian arrived. It was absolutely hideous. It was a twisted fusion of Dumbledore, Voldemort, and dozens of other people, and it had a bright shade of red hair.
Harry stared.
"In reality," said Snape, "few things are as simple as your rivalry with the Dark Lord. I associate the Dark Lord with difficulty, but I also associate many other people, such as Dumbledore, with my own troubles related to Voldemort. It's all very complicated, and the end result is something like this."
Voldemort made a screeching, roaring cry, and it was the most horrible sound Harry had ever heard, as if dozens of people were screaming at the same time.
"How do you deal with this?" asked Harry.
"The same way I deal with the Dark Lord," said Snape. He bowed down before the guardian. "My lord, I am eternally in your servitude."
The guardian gave Snape an approving roar.
Harry stared. "You haven't mastered your guardian?"
Snape gave a strained chuckle. "It is enough to fool most, but it's definitely far from perfect."
"How is this supposed to help me?" asked Harry.
"How do you deal with the Dark Lord?" asked Snape.
Harry blinked, having an epiphany.
It was several weeks later. Harry and Snape were once again in his mind setting, as Harry faced down his guardian.
"Expeliarmus!" cried Harry, pointing his wand at his own guardian.
As the jet of crimson light impacted his figure, a heavy, Azkaban style cage rose out of the ground, and trapped the guardian within.
Snape smiled. "Congratulations, Harry."
"Thank you, sir," Harry replied.
"It's fitting we would meet here," said Snape.
Harry glanced around them. You could never be too careful in the Forbidden Forest. "I suppose that's true. Have you come to congratulate me then?"
Snape nodded. With a mental gesture, Harry brushed against Snape's mind, only to find, to his surprise, that instead of sliding off as he usually did, he hit a hard barrier. "You mastered Occulemency?" He asked. "How did you get over your fear of Voldemort?"
Snape didn't flinch. "It's hard to fear a dead man. I suppose I should thank you for killing him."
"Are you actually thanking me, or are you just saying you should thank me?" asked Harry with a chuckle.
Snape gave a light shrug. "This is the last time we're going to see each other for a long time."
"How so?" Asked Harry.
"I'm leaving Britain."
Harry blinked, and nodded.
"Before I go," said Snape, "take this." Snape handed Harry his alarm clock.
Harry blinked. "Thanks...?"
Snape rolled his eyes. "It's capable of producing sounds able to pierce mental shields. With this, you should be able to keep track of time while practicing Occlumency. If you spend too much time unconscious, it will jolt you awake."
Harry's eyes widened. "Thank you, sir."
Snape nodded, and began to leave, before turning around once more. "Harry, remember your priorities." Then, he Apparated away.