Lindsey woke up the next morning full of emotion. She sat up and looked around as if wishing there was something in her room that would erase her emotion. She sighed.
I'm a teenage girl for crying out loud, she thought to herself rolling her eyes, emotions run a muck in my brain, I can't get rid of them. If I could, I would have done it already. She laid back down on her bed and stared at the ceiling for another half hour or so. She was trying to get rid of the emotion that was brought on by the overdose of hormones that she had. It wasn't her fault that she was a teenage girl. After a while, she got up and got dressed. She walked quietly to the door and hesitated to open it. Sighing, she pulled it inward ready to face the inevitable.
As Lindsey walked down the stairs, her ears strained to hear any noise, any sign of life from the house. All she heard was her heart thumping and her feet sliding from one step to the next. She breathed as quietly as possible as though hoping to go unnoticed by her uncle. She reached the bottom and rounded the corner to the kitchen. Sure enough, there he was sitting at the table waiting for her. She smiled nervously.
Uncle Severus's cold stare cut into Lindsey like a knife. She shivered uncontrollably. Severus noticed and smiled slightly. He was pleased of his affect on the girl. Lindsey closed her eyes and sucked in air threw her nose. No emotion, absolutely no emotion, she thought. Her mind became blank, or at least she thought it was blank.
"Are you ready?" Severus asked. Lindsey jumped when he spoke breaking her concentration.
"Hang on a second; I need to get that emotionless thing back." She replied and closed her eyes again. Severus laughed. Lindsey had thought once that maybe if he lightened up and laughed sometime that it would be better. However, his laugh was disturbing. It was evil.
"The Dark Lord won't give you a second to clear your mind. You have to be ready at all times." Severus barked. Without warning Severus yelled "Legilimens!"
The kitchen seemed to be swimming in and out of focus. Other images seemed to be fighting their way into Lindsey's vision. It seemed logical to try to hold onto the image of the kitchen. She fought for it, reaching out and gripping the chair in front of her with all her might. An image of a crowded Quidditch pitch seemed to be laying onto of her vision. It was transparent as she focused on the black hearted man across from her. Then as suddenly as it had come, it went. The Quidditch pitch had disappeared and the kitchen was as clear as ever. Lindsey's breath was short and rapid.
"Good." Severus commented although his voice didn't sound that sincere. "Much better then Potter ever did."
Lindsey beamed with pride. I did better then Harry Potter, she thought to herself in disbelief, the boy who lived couldn't get this Occlumency thing but I can!
"Of course, you have work to do. You let me in a little. Next time try and block me as much as possible." Lindsey nodded and placed both hands on the chair in front of her. She would be ready this time.
"Legilimens!" Severus said pointing his wand at her once more. The kitchen swam once more. This time the image fighting against Lindsey was one of a girl holding her up against a wall in a dark hall. Lindsey thought quickly, no I don't wanna see this!
The image evaporated and Lindsey looked up at Severus.
"What was happening there?" Severus asked. It was almost as if he was concerned, except Lindsey knew better. He was probably just curious.
"Nothing." Lindsey lied even though that had been possibly one of the most terrifying experiences of her life. She looked down to avoid further questioning. She had only been a first year when that had happened. It was when she was organizing the dance team. A sixth year girl, a big one mind you, had cornered her and threatened her. She was from Brody after all. That was the house for the 'pure bloods'. Lindsey had been beaten pretty badly. She'd spent the entire weekend in the hospital wing after that.
"Well," Severus began, "you did much better than expected." Lindsey smiled for a fraction of a second. "We can continue this tomorrow I suppose. Rid your mind of all emotion every night from now on." He commanded. Lindsey nodded. "I'll be off then, work." With a pop, Severus was no longer standing in the kitchen.
Lindsey collapsed to her knees. She pushed a piece of her black hair off of her sweaty forehead with a shaking hand. That had taken quite a bit out of her. She grabbed the back of the chair once more and lifted herself off the ground. A tapping noise caught her attention and she looked to the window.
"Athena!" Lindsey called merrily. She hobbled over to the window and opened it. In flew her tawny owl. Athena landed on a chair and stuck her leg out. Lindsey untied the letter with great difficulty and stroked the owl gently.
Lindsey,
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!? Why haven't you returned anything I've sent through the music box? Maria and I have been worried sick! Did you get out or what?
Zoë
"Oops!" Lindsey exclaimed to herself. She ran up the stairs, after having recovered from the Occlumency fiasco, and into her room. She grabbed one of her last pieces of parchment, a quill, and some ink.
Z and Mea,
I'm so sorry! I've completely forgot about the music box. I'm back at my uncle's house but I'm fine. It's okay, he's not evil. It's kinda complicated and I'm not really sure if I'm allowed to say it so I'm not going to. You will never guess what I'm learning right now. OCCLUMENCY! Isn't that awesome. I had my first lesson today. And guess what else. Uncle Severus even said that I did better with it then Harry Potter. HARRY POTTER! Can you believe it? Well I'm gonna send this through the music box so it gets there fast (and to give Athena a break)! Write back soon!
Love
Lindsey
Lindsey fished the music box out of the bag she had taken and opened it. Inside were about a dozen or more notes that overflowed onto the desk. Lindsey cleared them out of it and put the letter she'd just written inside. She then laid back on her bed. She couldn't wait for the next Occlumency lesson.