30. Occlumency.

Much to Harry's horror, the hours of the first day back at Hogwarts flew by, giving him little time to prepare for his first Occlumency lesson with Snape. He was sure that, given the man's behaviour towards him since first year, the professor would do anything in his power to make the evening as unpleasant as possible. Needless to say, Harry was not looking forward to it.

As he sat in his usual place at the table in the Great Hall, his only consolation was that Spock would be there too. As he had seen during his first detention with Umbridge, the Vulcan was always ready to defend those whom he felt were being attacked without reason – even if they weren't Slytherins. He could only hope that he would manage to keep Snape in line long enough for the lesson to end without incident.

"Harry," Hermione said gently, bringing her friend out of his morose ponderings, "you should eat something."

"Yeah," Ron said between mouthfuls of mashed potato, "who knows, it might be the last free meal you have..."

"Ron," Hermione hissed, "that isn't helping!"

Kirk, who had been watching the exchange along with McCoy, laid down his fork. "Harry, you have to try to stay calm. The more you panic, the more mistakes you're going to make."

Harry snorted bitterly. "Snape would find something to punish me for even if my work was flawless."

"That's just because Snape's a git."

"Ron!" Hermione said aghast, "will you stop calling him that?"

"What?" Ron retorted defensively. "It's true, you know, and it's not like he's standing behind me, is he?"

"You're impossible..."

"Spock's leaving," Kirk observed, glancing across the Great Hall. "You should probably go soon."

Ron gaped as the Vulcan calmly walked through the door. "I don't believe him," he muttered incredulously. "It's at least ten minutes until you're meant to be there – even you don't leave that early, Hermione."

"That's Spock for you," McCoy quipped wryly. "Taking punctual to the extreme as only a Vulcan can."

Harry hastily gulped down some pumpkin juice before standing. Across the hall, Snape had already abandoned his seat at the staff table and was striding towards the door, his lip curling slightly as he caught sight of Harry.

"He doesn't look happy."

"When does he ever, mate?" Ron asked rhetorically.

"Harry, you'd better go," Hermione said urgently. "Ron and I will sneak some food up to the common room for you, since you haven't had a chance to eat anything..."

"Good luck!" Ron called after him, giving him a look of deepest sympathy before diving back into his food.

Barely anyone spared at glance at Harry as he walked out of the Great Hall, his heart pounding, on his way to the dungeons. Closing the door behind him, he was surprised to see Spock standing before him, Snape mercifully nowhere in sight.

"I thought you'd already left," Harry commented as they began walking to the dungeons, their stride matching exactly.

"I was awaiting your arrival."

"You left early so that I'd follow you," Harry deduced.

Spock's lips twitched, the movement almost too small to be seen. "I suspected that, without a sufficient prompt, you would fail to be punctual."

Harry grinned, not bristling at the gentle barb as he might once have done before getting to know the Vulcan better. "Thanks."

Spock inclined his head. "It was of course logical."

Harry felt a surge of affection for the Vulcan beside him as they reached the dungeon door and Spock knocked, effectively taking the lead and giving Harry a few precious seconds of being hidden from Snape's view as they entered the room.

They immediately found themselves in a small, shadowy room, the walls of which were lined with an impressive yet disgusting collection of creatures both living and dead, most of them slimy.

On the desk sat what looked at first sight to be a stone basin with runes and symbols engraved upon it. Its normally innocent appearance was made more sinister by the dim setting.

Without warning, Snape's voice came from the shadows. "Shut the door behind you."

All external light was effectively cut from the room, leaving the area slightly darker than before. Snape, however, seemed not to mind and navigated his office with ease, stepping into the light and pointing at two chairs opposite his own desk. They immediately sat down.

Joining them, the professor surveyed them for a few moments before speaking. "Well, Potter, you know why you are here. The Headmaster has deemed it wise for you to learn Occlumency and," he sneered, "unfortunately the task of teaching you has befallen both myself and Mr Spock. I can only hope that you prove more adept at it than Potions."

"Right," Harry snapped back.

"This may not be an ordinary class, Potter, but I am still your teacher and you will therefore call me 'sir' or 'professor' at all times."

"Yes...sir."

Spock gave Harry a brief warning look but otherwise remained quiet.

"Now," Snape said, letting the impertinence slide, "Occlumency. As I told you back in your dear godfather's kitchen, this branch of magic seals the mind against magical intrusion and influence."

"But Vulcan mind techniques do the same thing," Harry protested, "why do I need Occlumency?"

"Perhaps, Potter, the Headmaster has recognised that, given your usual inability to follow instructions, you should attempt both. Surely," his lip curled, "something would stay in that ineffective brain of yours if you were taught the same thing twice. Then again, you always were an exception to any given rule."

Spock's subtle shake of the head was the only thing preventing Harry from biting out an angry retort. Instead, he maintained an icy glare.

"Mastering this skill," Snape continued, "is essential. As you are no doubt aware, the Dark Lord is highly skilled at Legilimency-"

"What's that? Sir?"

"It is the ability to extract feelings and memories from another person's mind-"

"He can read minds?" Harry asked bluntly.

This time, it was Spock who answered. "That is a common misconception. There is in fact no 'reading of the mind' – rather, the attacker penetrates the subconscious thoughts of the victim and attempts to search for the information required, without the victim becoming aware of the intrusion. The term 'mind reading' would suggest a blatant breach of defence – one that would arouse suspicion in even a psi-nul victim."

Snape nodded in agreement. "The mind is not a book, Potter," he added, "but a complex and many layered thing. Navigation without being discovered requires subtlety – an asset which you seem incapable of understanding – in order to extract information. Blatant intrusion is pointless."

"However," Spock continued, "those who have received training in the mental disciplines are able to recognise even subtle intrusions."

"Only those skilled at Occlumency can lie in the presence of a highly skilled Legilimens such as the Dark Lord. Under an attack brought on by suspicion, obvious defence is useless and will only serve to confirm doubts. An accomplished Occlumens must be capable of distraction, of unobtrusive mental shields. This is what the Headmaster wishes you to learn."

"So," Harry said, "if Voldemort is such a good Legilimens, he could know what we're thinking right now? Sir?"

"The Dark Lord," Snape said wryly, glancing at Spock for a brief instant, "is at a considerable distance and the walls and grounds of Hogwarts are guarded by many ancient spells and charms to ensure the bodily and mental safety of those who dwell within them. Time and space matter in magic, Potter. Eye contact is often essential to Legilimency."

"Well then," Harry questioned, "if the spells are so strong and eye contact is necessary, why do I have to learn Occlumency?"

"Your visions are persisting," Spock stated simply.

"The curse that failed to kill you seemed to have forged some kind of connection between you and the Dark Lord. The evidence suggests that at times, when your mind is most relaxed and vulnerable – when you are asleep, for instance – you are sharing the Dark Lord's thoughts and emotions. The Headmaster thinks it inadvisable for this to continue."

"But," Harry blurted out quickly, "why does Professor Dumbledore want to stop it? I don't like it much, but it's been useful, hasn't it? I mean...I saw that snake attack Mr Weasley and if I hadn't, Professor Dumbledore wouldn't have been able to save him, would he? Sir?"

Snape threw Harry an exasperated glare, but allowed Spock to answer first.

"Voldemort, as a skilled Legilimens, may have become aware of the connections."

"Until now, he remained oblivious, but it is more than likely that he will soon recognise your presence. The visions you had shortly before Christmas represented such a powerful incursion upon the Dark Lord's thoughts-"

"I saw inside the snake's head, not his!"

"Do not," Snape said dangerously, "interrupt me, Potter."

"How come," Harry continued regardless, "I saw through the snake's eyes if it's Voldemort's thoughts I'm sharing?"

"Do not say the Dark Lord's name!"

Harry looked petulant. "Professor Dumbledore and the Star Fleet officers say his name."

"The officers," Snape reminded him, "are not from our universe, and Dumbledore is an extremely powerful wizard. While he may feel secure enough to use the name...the rest of us..."

Without noticing the curious eyes upon him, Snape rubbed at his left forearm, the movement apparently unconscious.

"I just wanted to know," Harry persisted, "why-"

Snape cut him off, apparently having lost his patience. "You seem to have visited the snake's mind because that was where the Dark Lord was at that particular time. He was possessing the snake and so you dreamed you were inside it, too."

"And Vol – he – realised I was there?"

"It is likely," Snape said icily.

"How do you know?" Harry questioned, oblivious to Spock's warnings not to push too far, "is this just Professor Dumbledore guessing or-"

"I told you," Snape said, voice hard as steel, "to call me 'sir'."

"Yes, sir, but how do you know-?"

"You will recall," Spock said patiently, "the abilities of a skilled Legilimens. It is reasonable to assume that he senses you."

"He is also likely to have deduced," Snape added, "that the process can work in reverse; that is to say, he may have realised that he might be able to access your thoughts and feelings in return-"

"And he might try and make me do things? Sir?"

"He might," Snape replied indifferently. "Which brings us back to Occlumency, which I believe we shall attempt first."

Spock inclined his head in acknowledgement of this, watching the scene unfolding before him curiously.

Snape had pulled his wand from his pocket, causing Harry to tense, but rather than aiming it at the boy, Snape placed the tip to his head. His expression never changing, he withdrew a floating, silver substance which seemed simultaneously to be both solid and liquid yet neither. He placed it carefully in the pensieve, controlling its descent with his wand, before adding several more.

"Professor," Harry began curiously," what-"

"That is none of your concern, Potter," Snape said, stowing the pensieve away on a shelf, out of the way. "Now, Mr Spock, if you would move to the side of the room..."

Soon, it was just Harry and Snape, one gaze apprehensive and defiant, the other cold and carefully unemotional.

"Stand up and take out your wand, Potter."

Harry got to his feet. Now, only the desk stood between them.

"You may use your wand to attempt to disarm me, or defend yourself in any other way you can think of."

"And what are you going to do?" Harry asked nervously.

"I am about to break into your mind," Snape said calmly. "We are going to see how you resist. I have been told that you have already shown aptitude at resisting the Imperius Curse. You will find that similar powers are needed for this...brace yourself, now. Legilimens!"

Standing in the shadows, Spock could only watch as Harry's eyes glazed over and his breath began to quicken. Poising himself to interrupt should anything appear to be going wrong, his gaze shifted between an increasingly desperate Harry and clinically detached Snape, noticing the way the professor's eyes were narrowed slightly in concentration as he tore into the boy's mind.

"No," Harry murmured, eyes flickering back and forth as though watching a scene replaying before him. A blush was beginning to tinge his cheeks, mixed with mortification and resentment.

Snape did not relent.

"Not...watching..."

With what seemed like an enormous effort, Harry seemed to push Snape from his mind, a quick bolt of light lancing through the air even as Harry collapsed onto the floor, panting heavily.

Snape, rubbing his wrist irritably, glared down at Harry. "Did you mean to produce a Stinging Hex?"

"No," Harry muttered, pulling himself back to his feet.

"I thought not," Snape replied. "You let me get in too far. You lost control. A pitiful first attempt in comparison to that of Mr Spock," he sneered.

Harry drew himself up angrily. "Spock's trained to do this," he retorted angrily. "Sir."

Snape remained unmoved. "Be that as it may, there is vast room for improvement."

"Did you see everything I saw?" Harry asked finally, after a short internal debate.

Snape smirked. "Flashes of it. To whom did the dog belong?"

"My Aunt Marge."

"An intelligent animal, obviously." Snape raised his wand once more. "You must remain focused. Repel me with your brain and you will not need to resort to your wand."

"I'm trying," Harry retorted sharply, "but you're not telling me how!"

"Manners, Potter. Now, I want you to close your eyes."

Throwing his professor one last filthy look, Harry complied, his hand clenched tightly on his wand, body tense.

"Clear your mind, Potter. Let go of all emotion..."

Harry continued to breathe harshly.

"You're not doing it, Potter...you will need more discipline than this...focus, now..."

Despite the increasingly controlled breathing, Harry's body remained tense.

"Let's go again...on the count of three...one-two-three – Legilimens!"

The effect was instantaneous. Harry's arms jerked as though he was trying to escape from the images plaguing him, and Spock saw his mouth open, horror etched upon his face as memory after memory assailed him.

"NOOOOOOO!"

With an almighty thud, Harry collapsed onto his knees once more, his head in his hands, pain rolling off him.

"Get up!" Snape snapped. "Get up! You are not trying, you are making no effort. You are allowing me access to memories you fear, handing me weapons!"

With slight difficulty, Harry staggered to his feet, teeth clenched. "I – am – making – an – effort."

"I told you to empty yourself of emotion!"

"Yeah? Well, I'm finding that hard at the moment!"

"Then you will find yourself easy prey for the Dark Lord!" Snape spat back. "Fools who wear their hearts proudly on their sleeves, who cannot control their emotions, who wallow in sad memories and allow themselves to be provoked so easily – weak people, in other words – they stand no chance against his powers! He will penetrate your mind with absurd ease, Potter!"

"Perhaps," Spock said over Harry's angry retort, "I may be of assistance."

Snape span around to face him, still pale with fury at Harry's blatant failure.

"Vulcans are taught mental disciplines to control emotions," Spock explained calmly. "Perhaps the sharing of this knowledge with Mr Potter would facilitate the learning process."

Snape looked doubtful. "Sophisticated techniques have never appealed to the boy."

"Nevertheless," Spock insisted, "there is a considerable chance of success."

After a moment of deliberation, Snape nodded and allowed Spock to approach Harry, who looked slightly relieved. Snape, in spite of his initial reluctance, looked curious.

Spock and Harry were now eye to eye, only a short distance between them.

"There are numerous emotions with which you struggle," Spock stated.

"Yes," Harry admitted, looking confused as to where this was heading.

"Name them."

Harry's eyes darted apprehensively to Snape. "I..."

"It is necessary," Spock said quietly. "Only once you identify the problem can you attempt to rectify it."

Harry sighed. "Loathing."

Snape's jaw tightened at this, but he did not interrupt.

"Anger. Embarrassment. Indignation..." he hesitated.

"There is an additional emotion," Spock prompted gently.

"Nervousness," Harry admitted, resolutely not looking at Snape.

Spock nodded. "That is satisfactory. The next step," he continued, "requires these emotions to be cancelled out individually."

"How?"

"Identify the opposite of loathing," Spock ordered.

Harry swallowed, looking slightly uncomfortable. "Love."

"That is correct. Now, you must focus upon a memory with an undercurrent of love."

There were a few moments of silence before Harry said, "I've got it."

Spock nodded once more in approval. "You must retain that sensation. Does the loathing remain present?"

Harry looked slightly surprised as he answered. "No."

"Repeat the process," Spock instructed, "until the negative emotions no longer exist."

Harry closed his eyes in concentration, his eyebrows furrowed with effort as his breathing became slower and his posture more relaxed.

"Now," Spock said quietly, "you must release the remaining emotion and thought."

This time there was no answer as Harry continued to stand with his eyes closed, his face devoid of the hatred that had been so prevalent earlier.

Spock stepped back to his former position, satisfied, and glanced at Snape, who seemed vaguely shocked that Harry had been able to follow instructions without argument. "A lengthy process without practice," Spock said neutrally, "but effective."

The surprised look did not leave Snape's eyes as he surveyed the boy before him. "Indeed. Now, Potter, are you prepared?"

A slow nod.

"Legilimens!"

Snape's expression became exasperated once more as the boy began to squirm and bellow, finally shouting "I KNOW! I KNOW!" before collapsing to the floor.

Snape lifted the spell and glanced curiously at Spock.

"It is a difficult state to maintain without sufficient practice," Spock explained.

Sighing, Snape returned his attention to Harry, who was beaming in bizarre excitement. "What happened then, Potter?"

"I saw – I remembered..." Harry babbled, "I've just realised..."

"Realised what?" Snape demanded.

There was a long and uncomfortable pause as Harry continued to pant in excitement, his mind evidently elsewhere.

"What's in the Department of Mysteries?" He asked finally.

Snape stared at him, looking unnerved. "What did you say?"

"I said, what's in the Department of Mysteries, sir?"

"And why," Snape questioned, "would you ask such a thing?"

"Because," Harry said slowly, watching Snape like a hawk, "that corridor I've just seen – I've been dreaming about it for months – I've just recognised it – it leads to the Department of Mysteries...and I think Voldemort wants something from-"

"I have told you not to say the Dark Lord's name!"

They glared at each other for several long, silent moments.

Snape was the first to speak, his voice almost completely calm. "There are many things in the Department of Mysteries, Potter, few of which you would understand and none of which concern you. Do I make myself plain?"

"Yes."

"I want you both back here same time on Wednesday. We will continue work then."

"Fine."

"Acknowledged."

"You are to practice Mr Spock's method every night before sleep, empty your mind, make it blank and calm, you understand?"

"Yes."

"And be warned, Potter...I shall know if you have not practised..."

"Right," Harry muttered, walking out the door without a backwards glance. Spock, after nodding politely at the Potions Master, followed him.

oOo

Several hours later, after an unproductive visit to the Death Eater base, Snape paced the floor of Dumbledore's office, scowling down at his feet and inwardly wondering how the old man before him managed to look calm during any and every crisis.

"The Dark Lord's forces are incompetent," he spat finally, not stopping his pacing. "They are still no closer to finding the proper incantation."

"That's good news for us, Severus," Dumbledore reminded him, hands laid placidly on the table in front of him. "We are fast reaching the final stages."

"And they're fast reaching the final stages of rebellion!" Snape exclaimed, turning to face the Headmaster.

"It is of course only natural that they should blame you for their failure, Severus. You are, after all, their impromptu leader."

"Then it would be 'only natural' should they decide to get rid of me and continue alone," Snape sneered sardonically.

Dumbledore didn't blink. "That is a possibility."

"Wonderful."

"However," Dumbledore continued, raising a hand, "you will be able to prevent this. You have no choice but to give them the correct information."

Snape stared at him as though he had grown antlers.

"Not all of the correct information of course," the twinkling wizard amended.

"I was under the impression," Snape drawled sarcastically, "that I had already begun to do that."

"This time, Severus, there will be more truth in what you give them. Am I correct in saying that they still believe your information to be stolen from me?"

Snape inclined his head, but the bitter scowl did not leave his features. "They blame me for their lack of imagination. Apparently," he sneered, "the so-called spy is becoming 'old'."

Dumbledore looked thoughtful. "It seems they require more information than they have been given."

"Subtle hints never appealed to the tastes of the Dark Lord's ranks."

Dumbledore's lips twitched. "Indeed. Well," he said cheerfully, "I am certain that I'll be able to concoct something both truthful enough to strengthen their trust in you, and ambiguous enough to keep them from advancing too far. Now," he added, clearly bringing that topic to a close, his gaze boring into Snape's, "on to the matter of Harry's first Occlumency lesson..."

"The boy is lazy," Snape said at once. "He has made appallingly little progress in the time that I spent teaching him – he may even have worsened. In fact," he sneered, "it seems that he enjoys the prospect of a link with the Dark Lord."

"And why would he enjoy it, Severus?" Dumbledore asked mildly.

"The boy is too arrogant for his own good. No doubt the idea of being literally able to see into a powerful mind appeals to his own sense of importance."

"Harry Potter is not his father. You would do well to remember that."

"He makes no effort." The words 'just like his father' hung ominously between them.

"Nevertheless," Dumbledore said quietly, "I doubt that he purposefully leaves his mind open to Voldemort."

"If he would simply learn some restraint instead of leaving his mind and emotions open for all to see, he would not find this so difficult!"

"You don't deny that he has the ability?" Dumbledore asked mischievously.

Snape looked mutinous even as he relented. "He lacks the determination needed to master the skill. He is too passive – he expects everything to be done for him. He has failed even with the help of Mr Spock."

"He has shown that determination in the past. We can only hope that it surfaces soon. I fear that Voldemort is becoming impatient."

"The future of the wizarding world has no hope if it lies in the hands of Potter."

"I have every faith in Harry."

Snape snorted, but did not argue the point further, instead changing the subject. "And the Star Fleet officers – can they still be trusted?"

Dumbledore nodded. "We can trust them to keep themselves out of the hands of the Death Eaters – as much as is possible without magic, of course."

"It was a mistake to release them from the castle. Word has already spread and plans are being made for the next opportunity of ambush. Though the plans are amateur, there is too much chance of success against three people who have all the magical ability of squibs."

"I can assure you, Severus, that I have taken every possible precaution."

"Every precaution is taken on keeping the Potter boy safe," Snape replied, "yet he still wriggles free of them and lands himself in trouble."

"I rather believe that trouble finds him."

Snape was beginning to look slightly exasperated. "It hardly matters how the danger arrives; it still exists!"

Dumbledore surveyed the scowling wizard for a few moments, mouth gradually curving upwards in amusement. "Are you volunteering to keep an eye on them?"

Snape's expression was unfathomable. "I am suggesting that they remain here, where they are protected by the wards which you put in place."

"I do not wish to deny them their freedom, Severus, limited as it is. I shall notify you when they next leave the castle – with permission, that is," he added wryly.

"Headmaster, I can hardly traipse after three known targets of the Death Eaters!"

"I'm sure you will find a way of remaining inconspicuous. Polyjuice Potion, perhaps?"

Snape's eyes narrowed. "You are enjoying this."

Dumbledore's face was the mask of innocence, which only seemed to confirm Snape's suspicions. "In any case," he replied, ignoring the question completely, "they couldn't be in better hands."

Snape sighed, knowing he's lost the argument. "Very well." He turned to leave, but Dumbledore's voice stopped him by the door frame.

"Take care not to torture Harry too much in his next Occlumency lesson," he said knowingly.

Snape's only response was a smirk as he turned and stalked out the room, leaving Dumbledore smiling after him.