One pawn among many

He stood in front of the white monkish statue, waiting for Salazar to arrive. He was thinking about the discussion he just had with Dumbledore. The Headmaster had tried to provoke him. He didn't know why but somehow Dumbledore had expected something that didn't happen. Maybe they had been interrupted too soon. That damned woman really had every corridor of Hogwarts under her close surveillance. Harry was lucky to have his Invisibility Cloak.

There was something else that agitated him. He had been quite insolent with Dumbledore and it disturbed him. This isn't what he wanted. Of course he had some resentment towards the Headmaster, though after tonight he was starting to understand why he had been that distant, but he had never wanted to be rude. Exasperated maybe, but nothing more. He just seeked answers. And why had he felt the urge to attack Dumbledore like this? For a moment he thought he had been a snake. Ready to bite, ready to…

'Good evening Mr. Potter,' said a voice coming from behind that made him jump. It was the second time tonight. 'Oh, I didn't mean to startle you, young man,' continued Salazar when he saw Harry turn brutally toward him. 'You seemed to be deep in your thoughts.'

Harry nodded, a bit embarrassed by the surprise he had felt. Perhaps he should start to be a bit more aware of his surroundings. He couldn't bear being caught by surprise anymore.

'Can I ask you something, Sir?' He said before the founder indicated his task for tonight.

'I'll allow it.'

'The night you told me I shouldn't let His feelings flood mine,' started Harry, 'you weren't just talking about my anger, did you?'

Salazar shook his head. The young Mr. Potter had taken his time to think about his advice but it seemed he was starting to ask himself questions. He was now curious to see if those questions would be the correct ones.

'This connection between Voldemort and I, you explained I could see it as an insight into his soul. That means he must have an insight into mine as well.' His mouth began to dry. 'Are those types of connection common in the Wizarding World?'

'No,' answered Salazar, a bit annoyed. This wasn't a good question. 'This is rather unique I would even say. But come on, young man, surely this matter must have raised better concerns in that mind of yours!'

'Why can He get to me like this?' Harry asked, trying to not let fear overwhelm his mind. 'Is there any way I could defend myself?'

'That's better,' smiled Salazar. 'But knowledge is precious and needs to be earned. So tell me, young man. When is he able to get to you? What are the moments when you feel you're losing control?'

'I guess that so far it has always happened when I was angry,' started Harry trying to understand where Salazar was getting at. 'Do you mean that there are feelings, certain emotions that he could use to His advantage?'

'You have a lot in common with my Heir,' answered the founder. 'You share a lot of similar experiences and that means the emotions you built from those experiences are, to a certain degree, close to His.'

'This is why you suggested I learn to let go of my anger,' said Harry. 'If I stop feeling the… the emotions on which we can connect, he wouldn't be able to get to me anymore?'

'Which brings you to your next inquiry,' nodded Salazar. 'Can you defend yourself?' A strange smile drew on his lips. 'Are you familiar with the arcanes of the mind? Have you ever heard about Occlumency or Legilimency?'

They didn't train that night. Harry listened to the old master explain the differences between branches of magic he had never suspected until then. Letting go of one's emotion was the first line of defense one could build against a Legilimens. But there were other shields that could be put up. Harry also learned that Legilimency was way more effective through eye contact. Which raised more questions in his mind.

'But Voldemort isn't at Hogwarts,' observed Harry. 'Can you use Legilimency while being far away from your victim?'

'Can't you think of one way?' Replied Salazar, satisfied with the rising quality of his apprentice's questions.

'My scar…' muttered Harry. This wasn't fair at all. However he didn't lose hope. 'Can you teach me Occlumency then?' He asked Salazar. A sparkle lit up in the founder's eyes.

Harry went to bed tonight with a kind of exhaustion he had never felt before. Even after a hard study session with a pushy Hermione. He had lost the ability to think. He had spent the rest of his evenings trying to empty his mind under the guidance of Slytherin. He never let him any time to rest. It had never bothered Harry during nonverbal wandless magic practice. But when it came to this kind of training, only pride had prevented him from begging for a break.

He sighed. Tomorrow… in a few hours he would be in Potions. He let his head rest on his pillow and soon he fell in a dreamless night.

During the few days following his meeting with Dumbledore, Harry only focused on his classes and training. They would sometimes continue his formation on wandless nonverbal magic and sometimes discuss the mysteries of the mind. Around the middle of December, the routine he had managed to put in place was disturbed by news that rejoiced him greatly. Hagrid was back. As soon as they discovered, Ron, Hermione and he ran toward his hut to greet him.

But when they left it Harry's heart was heavy again. There was indeed a war coming. Armies that were building their forces outside and alliances being forged in the darkness. As they were walking toward the castle, he realised he had never felt so vulnerable in his life. Like a fly trapped in the middle of a web, he was in the middle of a giant conflict he didn't know about. Like the little fly he was, he didn't know where the spider was though he could feel her observe his every move. And worse than all, he didn't know if anyone would save him in time.