Reviews Please!! Also when they are drinking fire whisky, think Buffy's reaction to liquor in "Life Serial"
Chapter 13 - Occlumency
The next day fro Harry saw his first charms lesson with the Slytherins. Fortunately for Harry, Malfoy wasn't doing this subject, and Professor Flitwick didn't favour the Slytherins like Snape, so it was actually bearable, though difficult. Harry, Ron and Hermione had all found that the standard of work at NEWT level was much higher than that of Owl. However the homework load wasn't as large as last year so they managed to muddle through it, having more free time this year, without proper exams at the end of it. They had their first free lesson that day, just after lunch, and while Ron and Hermione were discussing the various ways they could spend their time, Harry was due for his first Occlumency lesson with Dumbledore, and Dawn had Potions with the other Scoobies.
"So what's Occlumency?" Dawn asked.
"Well, me and Voldemort have this connection, because of when he tried to kill me," Harry began, "So sometimes we share thoughts. Last year it got really bad, and we were sort of possessing one another, though he had some control over it, whereas I didn't. So Dumbledore is teaching me to close my mind to it, so Voldemort can't affect my thoughts."
"So it's like mind reading……only not," Dawn said, somewhat lamely.
"Well eventually I'll be learning Leglimency, and going into Voldemort's mind, to find out what he's thinking," Harry said, "But only when I've mastered Occlumency.
After lunch, Harry left Ron, Hermione and Dawn and went to Dumbledore's office.
"Acid Pop" he said to the statue outside, and it moved aside to let Harry step onto the moving staircase
and proceed to Dumbledore's office. He knocked once, and at Dumbledore's assent, entered the room.
"Harry," Dumbledore greeted, "We'll start right away shall we?"
Harry nodded and positioned himself opposite Dumbledore in the office, raising his wand.
"Legilimens," Dumbledore said, and Harry felt the familiar sensation of past memories rushing through his head, Aunt Marge hitting him with her stick to let Dudley win at musical chairs…….Cedric lying on the ground, spread-eagled and dead…Sirius falling through the curtain….Sirius alive, lying on the floor of Grimmauld Place….hugging Dawn after finding out he was Quidditch captain…. A snake coming out of his mouth….."They will come and He will fear them……be it for light or darkness"… Suddenly Harry felt Dumbledore release his mind.
"Sorry Professor," Harry said, gasping, "I have been a bit rusty lately, but I haven't had any visions."
"No its fine," Dumbledore said hurriedly, " But those words, where did you hear them? They will come….."
Harry thought for a moment.
"A dream," he said remembering, "The night before I met Buffy and Giles, I had a dream, and Voldemort was making a snake come out of my mouth then I heard those words."
"That's was the voice of Sybill Trelawney," Dumbledore said thoughtfully, "She wouldn't remember if she'd had a vision or not, but maybe you picked it up. The HE was probably Lord Voldemort, but I wonder who the 'they' referred to?"
"Buffy?" Harry said, "I mean it's a bit of a coincidence that I dreamt about a group who Voldemort would fear, then a vampire slayer turns up on my doorstep the next day, and with her a group of people who had fought more demons and vampires than anyone could fathom. And a really powerful Wicca. You said he was gathering an army."
"Yes," agreed Dumbledore stroking his beard, "It would appear so. What with the visitors from Los Angeles, the army of slayers, they will be a rather interesting group. But to end this, be it for light or darkness…."
He shook his head as if to clear it.
"Anyway, we must crack on," he said, "Are you ready? Legilimens."
Harry once again saw the slideshow of memories, Ron trying to turn Scabbers yellow….A black dog staring at him in Magnolia Crescent…Hang on, Harry thought, this isn't right, I shouldn't just sit here. All of a sudden, Harry felt Dumbledore leave his mind again. His eyes cleared and he saw Dumbledore wobbling around the room, on jelly-legs.
"Oh Professor, I'm sorry," he said in shock, performing the counter curse. Dumbledore grinned at him.
"Quite all right Harry," he said benignly, "Impressive how you fought that off, you are making good progress. It was quite interesting to have jelly-legs anyhow. We must finish for today, as you have another lesson shortly."
"Professor?" Harry asked, "Before I go, can I just ask, are there any more developments with Voldemort?"
"We haven't been able to find out anything ," Dumbledore said gravely, "However I do have some news for you, I have asked Miss Summers and friends, to teach you how to defend yourselves against enemies, without the use of a wand, for example against vampires and demons. The lessons will begin when our new friends from Los Angeles arrive. I realise your work load is already heavy but this is important. Tell Miss Granger and Mr Weasley they are welcome to attend also."
Harry finished they day occupied with thoughts about what kind of defence he would learn from Buffy. He had not seen her properly fight and was intrigued to see slayer strength. He mentioned this to Sirius as they sat in The Scooby common room that night.
"Now that would be something," Sirius said, "I'd love to see a slayer fight, and when they all come, well that will be interesting. Think I might have to come to your defence lessons."
Buffy sat in her room on the floor with Sirius. Buffy had decided she wanted to try Firewhisky, and so Sirius had brought a bottle, which they were sharing as a nightcap.
"Bleugh," Buffy said, with her tongue out, shaking her head, every time she had a gulp of it. "This stuff is wicked strong." Sirius grinned and took a large gulp.
"I see," Buffy giggled, "trying to show off your manly qualities. I could take you easily. And I think you're drunk."
"Oh really?" said Sirius, "I'm drunk?"
"Yes," she said, standing up, "Drunk as a skunk. A skunk. Yes. A total lost weekender." She swayed on the spot slightly. Sirius stood up and steadied her.
"Are you trying to take advantage of me," she said hiccupping. Sirius just picked her up, and laid her on her bed.
"'Night Buffy," he said as he left the room, but she was already fast asleep.
"Urgh, my head hurts," Buffy moaned the next morning, sitting at the staff table.
"Teach you to drink Firewhisky, you little alcoholic," Xander said wisely. "Bacon?" Buffy visibly paled and ran out of the hall hand clasped over her mouth.
"What did you just do to my girlfriend?" Sirius said good-naturedly, sitting down in the seat Buffy had just vacated.
"Just offered a little bit of bacon," Xander said, wide eyed, "Don't know what the deal was?" Sirius chuckled.
"I wanted to talk to you," Xander continued awkwardly, "I know you and Buffy are together now, and I care about her a lot, so I just wanted to say that if you hurt her in anyway, you'll find a stake in your heart, despite the fact that you're not a vamp, like the others. Buffy has had a lot of bad times, I don't want you to make this another one"
"I won't" said Sirius, "I care about her."
"Well that's good then," Xander said, "It is not to worry."
The Scoobies sat in Dumbledore's office listening to the man before them give a report.
"….We found that many vampires have been making their way to Britain, an unusual concentration of them. They are planning an attack, but no on the Ministry, as previously thought," Kingsley Shacklebolt said, in his deep voice, "The signs point to their coming to Hogwarts, they are coming for Potter, Albus, Voldemort won't take anymore risks at letting him live, he knows that the prophecy foretold the end for him, and he knows that it concerns the boy."
Dumbledore rose from his seat and paced the office.
"How long have we got?" he asked distractedly. "How long before they are ready?"
"We are looking at sixth months before they are ready. Our inside information shows us that it will take that long for the forces to gather. Voldemort isn't taking any chances this time," Moody answered bitterly.
"Very well," Dumbledore said slowly, "We have time. We cannot risk removing Harry from Hogwarts, no where else has the defence that we can muster. But we need to up the defence, put more charms on the castle, more protection. We will not be ill prepared, our army is coming, The Slayers will come."
Buffy nodded, "Next week," she said, "Then we can start training, Harry and Ron and Hermione, and possibly the other students. What do you think?"
"Perhaps," said Dumbledore vaguely, "But we are to avoid student warfare at all costs. We will meet them on the battle field, we will not let them enter this castle."
"I can help," Willow blurted out, "I've done some protection spells, some pretty strong ones. If we can combine the two magicks then we might have something."
"Good," Dumbledore said, "And we must begin Harry's attack training. I do not wish for him to fight, but I foresee that it will not be long before he has to." Dumbledore sighed. "This war will be the end of something, hopefully not us." Buffy stood up.
"We're with you on this, shoulder to shoulder," she announced. "But we need some help. We can't fight with the worry of being jinxed."
"Do not worry about that," Kingsley said, "We will take care of the wizards. But there will be a lot of demons. Our sources show that Voldemort has managed to recruit close to three thousand."
"We will be ready for it," Buffy said, "The Slayer now number sixty five, including myself and Faith who have extensive combat experience, as does Angel, Wesley and Gunn. We will be able to handle it."
"We must go back to the ministry," said Moody, turning back to the door, " Blasted Fudge, so scared for himself, that he wants protection all the time." Kingsley and Moody departed.
"Well, Albus, we should be ready," Giles said, "To think a whole battle over one boy, of such value."
Dumbledore sighed.
"It is a burden for Harry," he said sadly, "And he will want to fight, but we must not let him, unless there is no other way. He will want to, but we must protect him at all costs, he is our only hope."