A/N: Okay, only 3 reviews for the last chapter. Now, I am going to leave the BIGGEST EVIL CLIFFIE you have ever seen this chapter, and I'm not updating until I get at least ten new reviews. I'm sorry, but if I don't within four days or so, I'm not going to finish the story, because there's absolutely no reason to if only 3 people are reading it, and I am VERY thankful to my most faithful reviewers, and if I quit the story I will try to e-mail you the rest of the summary or something, because I don't want to leave anyone hanging like ten feet in the air. If this ends up being the last chapter I write, I am really sorry, and I would like to thank everyone for their support and kind reviews. It meant a LOT to me! Thank you!! And Please, please, pleeeeeeeaaaaaaase review. You know you want to. Lol.
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Chapter 57:
The next day was the heir's first group Legilimency lesson. They stood in the Potions room, Lenore looking around with distaste, Ginny nearly trembling, Draco perfectly at ease, and Harry indifferent and exhausted. Snape billowed into the room quite suddenly, glaring at the four students and slamming the door.
"Now," he growled immediately, turning around at his desk and looking them all in the eye. "I am NOT in a good mood after those damn insufferable Potter-wannabe second year Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, and I suggest that none of you cross me today!" Ginny took a step backwards and accidentally knocked over one of the things in a slimy jar.
"WEASLEY!" yelled Snape angrily.
"Reparo," muttered Harry at the broken shards of glass. They came together, and he put it back on the shelf, putting an arm around Ginny. "Professor," he said rather plainly, "Don't make us suffer because you're an incompetent teacher who can't control twenty second years." Snape's eyes flashed dangerously, and suddenly Harry wanted to take several steps back, in fear of his own safety.
"Potter," he said in a low, menacing voice. "Get up here. NOW!" Harry glanced back at the others before bravely stepping forward.
"Yes sir?" he asked blankly.
"You go first. Break into…. Weasley's mind." Harry's stomach flipped, and Ginny paled. Harry knew that every time someone placed Legilimens on Ginny she promptly passed out, making her a very vulnerable target. He couldn't make her relive those memories…
"No, Professor. Sorry, but I won't," he said nervously, absently ruffling his hair for reassurance.
"Do it!" growled Snape.
"No!" said Harry more firmly.
"I will take 100 points from Gryffindor!"
"NO!" yelled Harry. Just when his anger had reached his boiling point, Snape cast the Legilimens charm on him. Harry fought to keep his mind blank. After a minute or so, the curse was taken off, and Snape smiled!
"Very good, Potter, I must say…. Very good indeed."
"What?" asked Harry, feeling very confused. Snape, who was about to kill him a moment ago, was acting friendly! Suddenly, he cast Legilimens once more. Harry had more trouble blocking it this time.
Snape very suddenly took it off and then went to sit down at his desk. Harry looked at Draco, who was looking at Snape as if he'd gone mad.
"Is he… feeling okay?" whispered Lenore. Draco just shrugged in confusion as Snape wrote something down with his quill. He then stood up.
"Not bad, Potter…. You all," his eyes darted to everyone, "May be feeling a bit…. Befuddled at the moment. You see, Potter, I just screamed, yelled, tried to inflict pain… and you wouldn't relent. I threatened the wellbeing of either you or someone close to you…. And you did not give up. I then praised you; deceived you, Potter… and you let your guard down. When you were extremely confused, you let your guard down, Potter. Do you honestly think that the Drak Lord's only method of power is to cause pain? Threats? Blackmail? Oh, no, Potter…. Because Gryffindors don't fall for that nonsense. He will act like he's on your side; he'll offer you everything… he will give you needed attention, and importance… he will puzzle and confuse you, to get your guard down. And before you know it, BOOM!" he yelled suddenly, and Harry jumped. "You've turned. You've turned to the Dark side. You've turned in your destiny, your life… your death. This, Potter… Malfoy; Weasley; Felkes- this is what is needed for Legilimency. You need to think like your victim. You need to calculate their strengths; their weaknesses. You need to know there vulnerabilities. The Dark Lord spent years learning the Art of Legilimency, and has become highly skilled in it. Your Legilimency skills must rival those of your enemy, Potter, for you- all of you- to win this battle.
"Now," he said abruptly, we'll start with surprise lessons. You all will never know when one of the other Heirs is having a Legilimency lesson. They'll be unscheduled. I will have a word with one of you, teach you a few things…. And have you cast Legilimens when one of the others is least expected. And then you will both report to me, and tell me how both the Occlumency and Legilimency went. And I will know if you have not done your homework. Now, get out of my sight. Unfortunately, you are all in Potions tomorrow and I will have the irrefutable pleasure of seeing all of your cheerful faces. Good Evening. Oh, and Draco, might I have a word?"
Draco frowned. "Yes, Sir," he said.
"Should I wait for you?" asked Lenore.
Snape answered. "Mr. Malfoy is perfectly capable of getting back to the Slytherin Common Room, thanks," he said coolly.
So Harry, Ginny, and Lenore left the room. "That was a bit spooky," said Lenore doubtfully as they hurried through the Dungeons. She shivered.
"No kidding," muttered Ginny. "And now we'll all have to be paranoid of each other…"
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Over the next week, Harry was becoming extremely uneasy, jumping at the sight of Lenore, Ginny, and Draco, who, in turn, were jumping upon sight of him. So far, nobody had had their lesson, and it was freaking him out in more than one way. Harry was consistently forgetting to practice Occlumency, and he was consistently having dreams of Voldemort. He was obviously searching for something, and harry still had no idea what it could be. He went to Dumbledore, but Dumbledore simply assured him that he knew what Voldemort was after and he would not be getting it any time soon. ("And don't forget, practice your Occlumency!")
The weight of his NEWT classes was dragging Harry down, and he spent nearly all of his time studying, and the rest of his time looking up rare Potions, to see if they, by some slight chance, would have the "ingredient" in them. However, his luck was running low, and it showed at his Quidditch match on Saturday.
Before the game, Katie had still been completely stressed out that they had never been notified. The team was gathered for a meeting, in the locker rooms, and Harry could hear the crowds outside. It was actually a very nice day. It was a bit chilly, but the sun was out and it wasn't windy except for a slight breeze.
"Katie, chill!" said Lenore impatiently. "We'll do fine! Relax! Breathe!" Katie pulled at her braids.
"I'm sorry, everyone, but… Oh, this is not good! Okay, just play the best you can! All right? We have this! Parvati!" she yelled. Parvati looked up, startled, from her nails, which she had been filing with her wand.
"Sorry, Katie!" said Parvati, grinning. Her long black hair had been curled for the match, and Katie had already thrown a fit ("It's Quidditch! It's going to get messy, anyway!").
"Ugh! Why do I even bother? All right, everyone…. Let's get out there and do your best!" Harry grinned at Ginny, who was looking particularly nervous, and Lenore, who was looking particularly easygoing. Ron was looking just his usual nervousness, but Alex and Parvati looked nearly as at ease as Lenore. Harry felt pretty confident, but Katie looked like she was about to pass out from stress.
The team filed out onto the pitch to an uproar of cheers. Harry squeezed Ginny's hand, and she smiled gratefully. Katie shook Wilmington's hand. Suddenly Harry noticed that Tabby was out there! The only girl on the whole team, was an American who had literally learned how to play Quidditch last week. Lenore's mouth dropped beside Harry. Draco blew a kiss at Lenore, and Tabby waved, grinning.
"What the hell?" asked Alex. Harry shrugged. Madame Hooch's whistle blew, and the Harry kicked off into the air, welcoming the exhilarating breeze. He immediately began his quest for the Snitch, listening distantly to the commentary below. The Gryffindor Chasers were doing amazing, and after only fifteen minutes, the score was 120- 10, Gryffindor winning. Harry noticed that behind him, Draco was tailing him.
"Can't you find the Snitch yourself?" asked Harry boredly.
Draco smirked. "I would, but…. It's easier this way." Harry rolled his eyes, and suddenly ducked as a Bludger from Lenore hit Malfoy in the leg.
He cursed rather loudly, glaring daggers at his girlfriend. "What the Bloody hell was that for?" he asked spitefully, running his shin. Lenore shrugged.
"Felt like it…" And suddenly, Draco shouted at Harry.
"LEGILIMENS!" Harry staggered backwards on his broom, forcing himself to clear his mind.
Cedric was dead, in the graveyard. Cho was crying… Harry was destroying Dumbledore's office. He was with Ginny, in the sn- "NO!" shouted Harry. "Protego!" he yelled, his vision blurred. And suddenly, he was in Malfoy's mind.
Lucius was yelling, and a little boy was cowering, holding a teddy bear…Draco was casting Crucio on a portrait in his Manor… a girl was there, drawing up to kiss him, until Lucius billowed out of the house.
"Filthy Mudblood! We do not associate with them, Draco!"
"Stop!" muttered Draco. "Stop… STOP!" Harry lifted his wand. He suddenly tuned into the commentary.
"Looks like Potter in Malfoy are in some kind of mental struggle… Odd, really. The score is 180-20, Gryffindor's winning, and those Chasers and Keeper are on FIRE! Lenore Felkes passes to Weasley, who does nice little twist, under passes to Bell, who drops it into the goal…" Suddenly, Harry spotted a tiny golden glint on the other end of the field. He began racing towards it, but Malfoy was already ahead. He leaned over… faster, faster…. He was at Malfoy's feet- and-
"Slytherin Seeker, Draco Malfoy, catches the snitch. Ouch, Potter…. But Gryffindor wins! 180- 170!" There was an uproar of Cheers. Harry grinned at Katie, who looked numb with relief.
That evening, there was a party in the Gryffindor Common Room. Everyone attended, and Harry and Ron went to Hogsmeade for the Butterbeer. Ron was ecstatic; he had played amazingly and the crowd had started 'Weasley is Our King' three times. They had even started a chant about Ginny once after a particularly amazing shot.
"Weasley is our Queen! Weasley is our Queen! She always gets the Quaffle in; Weasley is our Queen!"
After the party, Harry collapsed into bed, exhausted, and glad that he could sleep in the next day. That evening, he practiced his Occlumency, and he had no dreams or visions. But when he awoke, it was still dark out, and there was a commotion in the dorm room.
"Harry! Wake up, quickly!" It was Hermione. Harry squinted.
"What're you…" he began.
"Come on, mate," said Ron, who was extremely tense and alert. Harry put on his glasses as somebody flicked on the light.
"Turn that off, Neville!" hissed Hermione. Her voice was shaking terribly. Harry squinted, trying to get used to the light and get used to the dark at the same time. Ginny and Lenore were both standing there, too, and they were crying. He sat up very quickly.
"What is it?" he asked fearfully, trying to see his friends' faces.
"Harry," said Hermione in a would-be calm voice. "Where's your DA galleon?"
· A/N: Whew! Lol. Review!!!!!!!!!!!! Remember, if I don't get enough reviews, bye story!