Author: mony2208
Rating: PG-13
Summary: 'In the past decade, the indications have been that wizard kind is living through nothing more than a brief calm between two wars' as Firenze said in Divination class, fifth year … In Harry Potter's 6th year, will this 'brief calm' end and the 2nd war finally begin? Will he have the power to become the murderer or the murdered? … All that can be said is Harry's sixth year proves to be his most difficult yet, with his connection with Voldemort growing stronger everybody and his worst nightmares haunting him at every turn. Ootp spoilers.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Forewords: Managed to update within a month – but only just. Sorry guys. I hope this chapter makes up for it. I tried to perfect everything, especially the long awaited Occlumency lesson, which I guarantee will be exciting (Well I hope).
Harry Potter and the Green Flame Torch
Chapter Twelve
The return of Occlumency
By the time Harry and Hermione reached the Great Hall to meet Ron for lunch, Harry had calmed down considerably.
Until Ron asked how Potions went.
After Ron had learnt exactly how Potions had went, Harry calmed back down again, glad that Ron – who initially almost fell off his seat – seemed just as angry as he at the unfairness of it all."So how many points did that greasy bat take altogether?" asked Ron.
"Ten, but I got two detentions." Harry answered grumpily. "I must be making a record or something. I've had a detention on the first day back almost every year, since I started at Hogwarts."
"Yes, that does seem the case, doesn't it Mr Potter?" The stern voice caused Harry, Ron and Hermione to jump and turn around and face their Head of House.
"It might then perhaps be too presumptuous of me to ask that you have free time to see me tonight?" McGonagall continued on evenly.
"Remedial potions." Harry grunted, looking down so McGonagall wouldn't see how angry he was.
"Very well then," said McGonagall, her tone immediately changing. She seemed to understand Harry was feeling a bit – delicate at the moment. "It was just about informing you on the upcoming Quidditch tryouts, seeing as you are the new Captain for Gryffindor."
"Oh, right." Harry said, straightening up in interest. Quidditch. Now there was something guaranteed to cheer him up. "What do you want me to do?"
That seemed to be what McGonagall wanted to hear and she smiled. "Tomorrow I wish for you to-" she paused to pull out a large rolled up parchment from her robe pocket and handed it to Harry. "post this up on the Gryffindor notice board within the week. Feel free to add or change anything as the tryouts won't be for another week."
Harry nodded vigorously, upsetting the precarious balance his glasses had on his nose. Already he had a few ideas running through his head. Grinning, he quickly pushed them back up. "Sure – thanks Professor."
McGonagall then sported a rather mischievous grin for an elderly professor to have. "Do try and hang on to that Cup this year, Potter. I've rather enjoyed holding it over Professor Snape's head for the past few years." she sighed wistfully. "Along with the House Cup, of course." She stopped, smiling again at the three Gryffindors, before walking over to the Staff table.
Harry looked back down at the parchment once she'd gone.
"Come on then, unroll it." Ron pressed. He looked just as excited by the mere mention of Quidditch, as Harry had been.
He grinned, already unrolling the parchment. He looked down at it. "Looks like McGonagall put down we just need two Chasers." He said finally, once he'd finished reading through it. The date for the tryouts was written down for one week on Friday afternoon. He furrowed his brow in thought as he stared down at the parchment.
"Oh – is that for Quidditch tryouts?" Ginny asked, wandering up to them in interest. A small group began to form around them as more Gryffindors walked over to see what the attention was for.
"Yeah," answered Harry, his mind half on the conversation, half on the poster. Since he was now Captain, he might as well try something a little drastic. Wood was known for his outrageous Captaincy, why couldn't he? He nodded inwardly and pulled out a quill from his book bag. "I think I'll add in the Beater positions for tryouts too." He decided, adding that in. "Sloper and Kirke might be better suited elsewhere." He added thoughtfully, absent-mindedly tapping his finger on the parchment.
As other people around him began to talk about who might be trying out, he suddenly remembered what Ginny had said back to him the year before.
"Are you going to try out for the Chaser position like you said last year?" he asked Ginny, who was distractedly curling a ringlet of red-hair in her finger as she stared at the poster.
Ron's head shot up. "What?"
"Oh – I told Harry that when he got his seeker position, I wanted to try being a Chaser." said Ginny simply, looking up.
"Oh."
"And yes I still do want to try out," Ginny told Harry, "if that's alright."
"Sure." Harry replied cheerfully, rolling the parchment back up. "You're a shoe in, the way you fly. Glad you didn't want to keep the Seeker position."
Though Ginny had outgrown her shyness towards Harry last year, Harry couldn't help notice the faint blush on her face.
"Thanks – oh I better be off. Dean's calling me over." She waved them off and went to join Dean, who was indeed waving from further down the table. Ron watched them intently the whole time.
"I don't approve." he said suddenly, when everybody else had left them alone again.
Hermione sighed. "Why not?" she asked, putting the book she was reading down on the table. "What's so wrong about Ginny dating Dean? He's your friend."
"J- Just not – Dean," Ron spluttered. He seemed to think for a moment before triumphantly adding, "He's messy – and he – he always leaves things around our dorms."
"That's hardly a crime.' Hermione muttered, making Ron flush.
But he tried again. "I - just think there are better – people," And again with the weird look, Harry thought, as Ron flicked his eyes over to him for a moment. "for her to go out with."
"Ginny doesn't need your permission on boyfriends, Ron." Hermione informed him. "or your interference."
Ron sniffed after looking at Ginny and Dean again, but relented. "So what's next?" he asked eventually.
"You have History of Magic, I have study … then we have Transfiguration together." answered Harry, unthinkingly, causing Ron to give him a surprised look. "What?"
"You knew our lessons," Ron said slowly, eyebrow raised. "on the first day back."
Harry flushed as Hermione stopped her reading again to study him too. "I just think that I should be a bit more – er – studious this year." he said cautiously.
Hermione seemed definitely pleased by that, and she gave an approving smile. Ron, however, looked confounded. "But you've never cared about being – studious before."
The way he said it, sounded foreign to him, as if Harry had never been serious about his work before.
… which of course he hadn't been really. He hadn't even been thinking about it that morning. He was never like Hermione, wanting to excel in everything, wanting to spend every minute studying and reading every book in the library. That had just never been him. If he passed, then that was okay. There were better, and far more important things in life than schools and books. Hermione had said it back in first year.
But that was all before his Potions lesson. As he had sat down in the background, watching as everyone bustle around their Potions whilst he was given yet another 'D', he realised that he should improve on his half-hearted attempt at school work. If not to shove it right back in Snape's face, then at least to help him in the war with Voldemort.
After all, he'd be the only one to kill Voldemort in the end and obviously, his sheer luck wouldn't always be there. He could not avoid meeting up with Voldemort again; Voldemort would seek him out, there was no doubt about that.
So Harry had made a promise to himself at that moment. He would be more attentive in all classes, study harder and take up extra curricular subjects to be able to survive long enough to kill Voldemort.
He fought back a sigh as he returned back to the present. Maybe he could re-start the DA again, or take up duelling lessons with Tonks. Harry was sure she wouldn't mind helping him out a bit.
Harry spent the rest of lunch in silence, listening to Ron and Hermione bickering about staying awake in History of Magic, then after the bell rang for their next lesson, Harry separated from his two friends, opting to spend his free period walking around the castle, just enjoying the solitude.
Exploring the less frequent populated part of the castle – near Trelawney's tower – Harry encountered no one, and he was able to mull over what being at Hogwarts had already dealt him.
Since his little bout of anger after potions and the night before, Harry admitted shamefully that he also couldn't let his anger get the better of him anymore. Plenty of things in life went wrong – as proven - but regardless of how unfair it was, Harry would just have to suck it up and go on with life. Other people like Remus and Dumbledore did, and they had gone through just as much as he had, if not more.
Harry knew it was easier said than done, and his anger had been rather out of control the past year … but he'd at least have to try and make an effort at occlumency. He couldn't let Voldemort break into his mind again … it was too dangerous having an open mind for Voldemort to delve into. He could find out anything about the Order or his friends.
There was also the little problem of the dreams he'd been having since the beginning of the summer. He had to stop those reoccurring dreams about his parents. He didn't think he could stand watching through Voldemort's eyes as his parents were murdered anymore. Even though it hadn't occurred every night, they had been appearing every now and then, something that he was sure would disappear once he was able to master occlumency.
As he passed a portrait of a sleeping wizard with colonial style spectacles hanging down his neck, Harry adjusted his own glasses and looked down at his watch.
"Oh no." Staring back at him were the words 'you're going to be late,' and Harry realised with a twinge of incredulity that his walk had taken up his whole free period and it was almost time for Transfiguration. Sighing, Harry made his way back to civilisation.
Harry had made it on time to the classroom, and he, along with the rest of his Gryffindors school-mates, shuffled into the Transfiguration classroom, and took their seats as they waited for McGonagall to arrive. Ever since Harry had met back up with his two best friends, Ron had taken to watching Harry warily, as though he had suddenly sprouted into another Hermione and was about to recite every subject textbook, word for word.
Harry found it all quite amusing and he grinned lopsidedly at his friend, resisting the urge to imitate Hermione's attentive pose as McGonagall entered the room.
"This year, we are to start human transfiguration," McGonagall stated primly as she shut the door.
Hermione, who was on Harry's left whispered a triumphant, "I knew it!"
"You mean we can become animagi?" Dean asked quickly, raising his hand up.
McGonagall sat down heavily on her chair. "Good heavens, no." she said, "I can't begin to imagine the situations you would all get into if you were to try becoming animagi … no no no." She looked horrified at the thought. "A human transfiguration is when the caster can transfigure certain body parts into parts of an animal with a special incantation. To become an animagus requires much more magical concentration. You don't recite an incantation to become an animagi. It is your sheer magical power - and not everyone has that ability."
For a moment, Harry swore he caught McGonagall flicking her eyes over to him as she said that, and he had a fleeting thought of the animagus book Remus and Sirius had given him for his birthday.
Wait – a – minute. Harry sat up straighter, something clicking together in his head. Remus's letter had said McGonagall would be teaching him, so that look must have been directed to him after all. She would be teaching him how to become an animagus!
He looked back at McGonagall with newfound respect and excitement, and suddenly, the day felt brighter. He wondered when he could start training.
"Any questions?" asked McGonagall, looking around at the class, once she'd finished explaining about human transfigurations.
Hermione immediately raised her hand after looking hesitantly at Harry. "Victor Krum did a human transfiguration in the 2nd task, didn't he Professor?" she asked.
A barely stifled snort sounding suspiciously like "Vicki," was heard on the other side of Harry.
McGonagall smiled. "Yes Miss Granger, you are correct. Mr Krum transfigured his head into that of a shark's so he could adopt its capabilities, such as in this case, breathing underwater."
Ron, looking sour, turned to scowl at Hermione, before he too, raised his hand. "But he did it wrong, didn't he, Professor?" he asked mock-curiously, shooting Hermione a triumphant glare. "He was meant to transfigure his whole body into a shark, not just his head. That's what the judges said."
"Yes, that's also correct, Mr Weasley," McGonagall looked shocked that Ron had taken notice of such detail concerning Victor Krum, but Harry wasn't surprised in the least. He had an amused smile on his face, as he then raised his hand.
"Uh, Professor Mo- well our professor in fourth year." Harry was unsure how to word the traitor taking Moody's place, but McGonagall motioned him to go on, "He used human transfiguration on Malfoy … transfiguring him into a ferret, that is, didn't he?"
McGonagall had to wait a few minutes to answer as the class laughed at the memory of "Malfoy, the bouncing ferret" as Ron whispered in his ear quickly, that same glazed look from two years ago reappearing on his face.
"Yes Mr Potter. That was a case of human transfiguration." McGonagall answered, then added sternly, 'But need I say that transfigurations of any students here at Hogwarts are against the rules and you will be punished severely were you to try it." With that warning, McGonagall gave them a practical demonstration; turning Neville Longbottom's hands into that of a pig's. Neville jumped, shocked for a moment before lifting up his now hoofed arm - complete with pink velvety skin – to the class.
"Wow!" Ron breathed, leaning forward on his seat. Harry too, was watching on in rapture.
McGonagall didn't keep Neville that way for long. After a few minutes of "Ooh's" and "Aah's" by the class, she quickly transfigured Neville back to normal and deflated the class's excitement by informing them they wouldn't be at her level for another few months.
She then had them copying down meticulous notes on human transfigurations and their properties for the rest of the lesson.
"Well that sounds really interesting, doesn't it?" Hermione said after they had exited the Transfiguration classroom and were on their way to Gryffindor tower. Her face was flushed in excitement at the very thought of human transfigurations.
Ron didn't look as pleased as they climbed through the Gryffindor portrait. "Yeah, real interesting." he grumbled, "Maybe you can write another twelve inch letter to Vicky asking how he did it."
Without another word, Ron stormed off to the boys dorms.
"I'm sorry, Hermione." Harry apologised, facing a rather put-off Hermione. "He's a bit worried about the school year and everything. I'm sure he'll realise how big a prat he is as soon as he reaches our dorm."
"Hmph - I just wish he would realise what he wants," Hermione said, incensed. "before I give up and bludgeon it into him." And she too stormed off in a huff, leaving Harry all alone in the middle of the common room; people eyeing him strangely from all directions.
He mentally threw his hands up in the air, before walking over to join Neville, who smiled timidly and moved his Herbology notes to give room for Harry to sit down.
"They really need to get their act together, don't they?"
Neville's unexpected words caused Harry to splutter in surprise. So he hadn't been the only one to see it, after all. A small graced his lips as he replied, "They certainly do."
Harry spent the rest of the afternoon before dinner in the common room with Neville, Dean and Seamus. As sixth year was the year in-between their Owl's and NEWT's and Hermione wasn't around to tell them off, they merely played a few games of Exploding Snap, instead of worrying about any homework. Not even Harry's newfound drive for excelling in his studying would change that.
Ron and Hermione were both noticeably absent from the common room until dinner; Ron having sulked upstairs in the boys dorm, refusing to come out and join them for a game, and Hermione off at the library with Ginny.
When dinner did arrive, Harry, Ron and Hermione joined back up together, though Ron and Hermione were sullen and a bit too civil for Harry's tastes.
Ron's liveliest words were when he asked when Harry's remedial potions lesson with Snape was.
"Eight," Harry replied glumly.
"Don't worry Harry," Hermione said comfortingly. "Ron and I will wait up for you when you get back."
As she said this, Ron's disgruntled expression changed into one of surprise. "Uh yeah – course we will." he said quickly, as if expecting Hermione to take back what she said.
"No, don't wait up." Harry replied desolately. He was glad that Ron and Hermione had forgiven each other – in their own little way – for him, but he really wasn't looking forward to having Snape dig through his memories again. "Snape'll probably keep me back to do the detention as well."
"I don't know what's worse for you." said Ron, scrunching up his face. "The thought of you doing Occlumency or you do doing detention. The last detention I had with him, I had to handle buckets of dragon liver." His face paled as he obviously remembered back to the disastrous detention.
"Doesn't matter," Harry grumbled, looking up at the staff table where Snape was conspicuously absent. Great, he thought, missing dinner … that can only mean more trouble for me.
The only thing that helped lighten him up a bit was when Hagrid brushed past halfway through dessert.
"Come see me after me double Creatures lesson tomorrow," Hagrid whispered in Harry's ear. "I got yeh present waiting." Then he strode off with a grin.
Hermione looked up from her book once he had left. "What present, Harry?" she asked suspiciously.
"Don't know," Harry shrugged. "Sent me a letter on my birthday saying he got me something too heavy for Hedwig to carry."
"Heavy?" Hermione repeated doubtfully. "I hope Hagrid didn't get anything illegal."
"He could have gotten you a pet dragon Harry," Ron said suddenly, who had also been listening in on the conversation. "Something to help protect you against you-know-who."
Hermione pursed her lips. "Certainly not, Ron." She said. "Hagrid wouldn't do anything like that again."
"Maybe he wants you to be Grawp's babysitter." Ron said, unperturbed at Hermione. He chuckled. "He probably thinks that's fun and Hedwig definitely wouldn't have been able to carry him to those muggle rellies of yours."
A thought of Grawp being dumped on 4 Privet Drive popped into Harry's mind, and laughing, he told Ron, who joined in.
"Boys." Hermione snorted, unimpressed. She went to return back to her book, but then obviously thought better and turned to look expectantly at Harry. "Shouldn't you be going somewhere?" she asked pointedly.
Harry took a look at his wizarding watch and gasped in horror. The arrows on the face of the watch were promptly pointed towards 'Almost running late'. He quickly finished up his pudding and stood up in a rush. "I'll catch y'later."
Ron and Hermione wished him luck, pointedly ignoring the Slytherins laughs and taunts as he passed by their table. He knew they were laughing over his detention and remedial potions lesson.
Harry snorted. Little did they know.
After pushing past the Great Hall doors, he took off at a sprint towards the dungeons. He didn't want to lose any more points for being one second late.
Thankfully, three moving staircases and who knows how many hallways later, Harry made it to the dungeons and Snape's classroom with a couple minutes to spare. Feeling slightly winded, Harry decided to stop and catch his breath by the door before entering Snape's lair. He needed to be rational and level-headed when facing Snape, and he doubted turning up panting and red-faced was going to do him any favours. Waiting a few more moments, Harry faced the door that led to Snape's office.
The door was slightly ajar as he raised his hand to knock, but before his knuckles had even touched the door, Harry heard Snape imperiously beckoning from within for him to come inside. Almost as though he had sensed Harry's presence.
Already feeling off-balance by that fact alone, Harry did so, accidentally shutting the door behind him a tad loudly.
"Five points for disrespecting a teacher." Snape said instantly, who was sitting behind his desk grading papers.
Harry snarled angrily, but didn't answer. Instead, he took out his wand and stood directly in front of Snape, waiting for the occlumency lesson to begin.
"Does it look like I'm ready yet, Potter?" Snape didn't even bother to lift his head as he continued to look down at his papers. Instead he insolently made Harry wait a few moments, before once again waving his arm for Harry to sit on a chair.
Harry sat down cautiously, his wand gripped tightly in one hand and silently fuming. He wasn't here to play games, and that was exactly what Snape was doing. The way he set the lessons, sabotaging his potions grade, and the way he was treating Harry that very instant; as if he wasn't even there. Harry gritted his teeth – No matter how much his father and friends tormented him, it wasn't fair for Snape to do the same to him. He'd done nothing wrong.
Finally, after Harry had almost gritted his teeth to nothing, it seemed that Snape had had enough of grading papers and he looked up at Harry, his lips pressed tightly together in a gesture of annoyance.
"Well boy,' Snape barked, "Don't just sit there. Get into position."
What kind of position, Harry wanted to say. You don't tell me how to do anything, other than to snark and spit at me.
Still, Harry set himself out in some sort of defence stance; wand tightly gripped in one hand and pointing towards Snape, and the rest of his body tensed in anticipation.
"Now clear your mind of all emotions." instructed Snape, not commenting on Harry's stance. He merely lifted a black eyebrow, raising his own wand as he stood directly in front of Harry.
Taking a deep, calming breath, Harry's eyes drifted close as he attempted some sort of emptiness in his mind. He concentrated on the way he was breathing, rather than thinking of anything related to him, memory and emotion-wise.
But, as time and time before, Snape's presence unnerved him, and his head began to ache as he tried desperately to block out his emotions of Snape; namely loathing and anger.
"Ready?"
Harry gritted his teeth, forcing back the tinge of frustration at Snape's lack of patience. He didn't answer.
He heard Snape tut. "The Dark Lord won't ask for your permission, Potter." he drawled.
The frustration began to grow at the pit of Harry's stomach, but before Harry had the chance to clear his mind again, Snape attacked.
"Legimens."
In a matter of seconds, Snape successfully broke through Harry's shield and Snape's office disappeared from Harry's line of sight.
A desolate seven-year-old Harry hunched up in the darkness of his cupboard, only a single stream of light visible above his head … Harry sitting on his bed, a torrent of emotions flooding him … happiness … awe … disbelief … fingers trembling as he opened his first ever birthday card … Sirius's face froze in mild shock, his body slowly disappearing through the back veil …
That's Sirius, the voice in Harry's head suddenly said, Sirius now out of view. The veil swayed to an invisible breeze. You have no right to see him … no right -
"NO!" Harry screamed, only dully noticing that he had fallen to his knees as he escaped his memories. He scrunched his eyes shut, breathing heavily as the familiar pain returned to his scar. One hand automatically reached up to scratch at that irritation and his breath hitched as it caused another fresh wave of pain.
Carefully, Harry trailed his fingers over his scar. It felt inflamed and sore to the touch.
'Well well, Potter.' Snape's voice came from directly behind him. He must have rounded on him when he was watching the memories.
Harry didn't bother turning around; he concentrated on slowing his rapidly beating heart and ignoring his stupid scar.
Snape's footsteps sounded close to his head. "Even after everything, you still haven't improved - one - iota," Snape paused, his face entirely void of emotion whilst Harry slowly and unsteadily stood up and faced him.
His knee joints cracked like an old man's, and Harry groaned softly. "Doesn't anything ever penetrate that thick head of yours, Potter?"
Harry took another deep breath and ignored the first jibe. "Contradicting yourself a bit there, aren't you, sir?" he sneered. "You're obviously able to get through."
Snape sneered back. "You're right, Potter. Too easily was I able to get through … Still. After all of last year's training." he said irately. "I had already skimmed through your thoughts before you defended yourself. You will be easy prey for the Dark Lord. In fact," He rounded on Potter, leering, "I don't see the point in continuing if you insist on remaining at the same idiotic stage you seem content staying at."
"How can I improve when I don't even know what to improve on?" Harry shot back.
"Clear your mind, Potter," hissed Snape. "and grow up. Rid yourself of these pathetic little emotions. Rid yourself of your senseless guilt and grief of the fallen. They can't help you now. They are long gone from this world." He swept an arm around the room to emphasise his point.
"So what?" Harry exploded. "You just expect me to forget them? Forget who they were, what he-" To Harry's embarrassment, his voice broke slightly, and he cleared his throat to try again. "I'm not going to turn into an emotionless person like you. I can't help remembering them and what they have done for me, and I can't forget who is to blame for that." Harry glared at Snape as he said that, heat rushing to his face.
Snape's reply was painfully simple.
"Legimens."
Aunt Marge was hitting a 5 year old Harry in the shins with her walking stick, laughing as he yelped in pain … Harry was running desperately from his cousin and his friends, his heart pounding as he looked for an escape route, any escape route … Neville was on the ground, shuddering and screaming in pain …
Get out. You can't see that, the little voice insisted, and Harry fought back.
'Pro-protego.' he gasped, scrunching his eyes up against the anguish threatening to spill out.
Suddenly, Harry's situation changed. His memories stopped, and instead of finding himself back in Snape's office, he found himself seeing something completely different … a man had his hand raised above his head, yelling at a pale black-haired boy … a solitary black- robed figure was kneeling within a circle of black-robed men, his bare pale arm outstretched in front of him …
"Expelliarmus." Harry found himself disarmed by the harsh, cold voice at the same time he was pushed out of the memories, and he blinked, entering reality once more.
As he found himself regaining his balance, he lifted his head slightly to have a look at Snape, whose face had paled dramatically. Unwittingly, green eyes met narrowed black, until Snape broke eye-contact to pick up Harry's fallen wand.
"I believe the Dark Lord will not be allowing you to defend yourself with a wand were he to attempt what I did just now." he said curtly, handing back Harry's wand. He seemed to gain colour back into his tightly drawn face.
"But - I thought last year,' protested Harry. His mind was still reeling from what he had just seen. Had that been Snape's initiation? He shook the thought quickly as Snape glared back at him, waiting for him to continue on. "Last year, you said I could defend myself by any means necessary – including with my wand … sir." he added quickly.
"That was last year. Like I said, he won't give you that chance of a wand to defend yourself, and now that the public is aware of his return, he will not relent until - you - are – dead." Snape ended the sentence at a shout, his eyes blazing, before he lowered his voice. "As Dumbledore believes, it will simply have to be your mind, and your mind only that repels him – though I am doubting that will ever occur."
The last was added whilst Snape rubbed at his temples with one gangly hand. It suddenly struck Harry how worn out Snape looked. He honestly looked on edge, and this whole Occlumency thing probably wasn't helping much either.
Harry caught himself before he began to sympathize with Snape. No matter what was going on, and what his – father and Sirius had done to him whilst they were at school, Snape had no reason to be so mercilessly cruel to him and feel absolutely no remorse for doing so. Why should Harry feel sorry for Snape if Snape cared not about his godfather's death or even his father's? Snape probably never felt even a smidgeon of pity for him, and he had experienced the same bullying from his cousin and friends that Snape did from Harry's father and god-father.
A little late, Harry went to defend himself, but Snape cut him off with a warning glare.
Harry sighed. "Why am I even learning Occlumency from you again?" he asked a bit wearily, "Why did you even agree to it again? You hate me."
"That is none of your business." Snape snapped, eyes narrowing.
"But why does he think you are better than him at teaching me?" Harry persisted, "sir. He knows how we – feel about each other."
"So you would rather have the Headmaster as your teacher because you like him?" Snape said, smiling nastily.
"Because he would treat me fairly." Harry shot back, irritated.
"Like the Dark Lord would?"
Harry was silent as the words sunk in, but Snape wasn't finished.
"I daresay you hate the Dark Lord even more than you hate me." he hissed. "So use your brain for once, boy. Think why that might be particularly important now."
Harry fought to form the words for his next sentence, his brain working a mile a minute with the new information that was just given to him. "S-so that's the only reason I'm here learning Occlumency with you? Because of my hatred for you - and lack of hatred for Dumbledore? Because you are more likely to act the same way Vol- You-Know-Who would?"
Snape smiled nastily. "Exactly, Potter." He said mock-approvingly. "And it has only taken you this long to figure it out?"
"If people would tell me what's going on I wouldn't need to figure anything out." Harry shouted, forgetting to reign in his anger.
"Another ten points from Gryffindor, Potter, and I won't hesitate to take more." Snape warned unpleasantly.
Harry closed his mouth with a snap, knowing that Snape would easily carry out that promise if provoked any more. He couldn't help himself from glaring back evenly though.
It didn't matter much as Snape seemed unaffected as he glided back to his desk. "I think that shall be it for tonight, Potter." he said silkily, sitting down. "You also have a detention to complete, if I recall correctly."
Despite the painful tingling in his scar and the anger churning in his stomach, Harry managed to nod his head. "Yes, sir."
"Those jars over there" Snape pointed to the far corner of the room, where a dark and dusty bookshelf was situated from ceiling to floor. Harry almost groaned aloud at the sheer amount of jars sitting on those shelves. "need to be cleaned and recorded down, so I may order some more. Is that understood?"
"Yes sir." said Harry, again. It was the only safe thing he could say without insulting the Potions Master.
The anger inside Harry dissipated over the next few hours as he spent the time picking up slimy and cobweb-covered jars that were filled with the most horrible and grotesque of ingredients. Snape had also retreated into his private office during that time, so that too lessened Harry's perilous temper.
Snape re-appeared from his office when Harry had finished recording over half the jars there. "That is enough for tonight," he stated with an expressionless expression on his face. "I believe that they are adequate enough, by your standards at the least. Same time next Monday."
Stifling a yawn, Harry didn't need to be told twice as he headed out the door. He caught sight of Snape's clock above the door, and saw it was nearing curfew.
"And Potter?"
Harry reluctantly turned, fighting against the urge to rub his ever irritating scar again.
"The Headmaster believes you have a few things you want to discuss with him." Snape sneered. "The password is 'Nauseating nougats' and he will be waiting for you now."
Harry nodded wearily before the last words sunk in. "Wha- Now?"
"Yes now, Potter." snapped Snape. "I'm afraid you'll have to postpone your little Gryffindor fan club for another night."
Snorting at the thought of a fan club, Harry just opened the door and walked out. Snape was such a deluded man sometimes, it was almost funny.
But his amusement lessened as he looked at the nearby staircase that would lead to Dumbledore's office. Did he really want to face Dumbledore now? Even though Dumbledore had been right in saying to Snape that Harry wanted to talk to him about a 'few' things, was he coherent enough? It was late and after the horrible day and Occlumency lesson with Snape, Harry felt even more on edge than usual.
All my thoughts and memories on for show can do that to a person, Harry told himself wryly as he tiredly trudged up the stairs. Especially when it's Snape that's controlling the reel of them like some botched home movie.
He hesitated again as he reached another staircase, Harry longingly looked at the one leading to Gryffindor tower just one hallway down. Finally, Harry sighed and chose the first staircase.
He had a conversation with Dumbledore that was long past due.
A/N: Dun … dun … dun. I wonder how Harry's going to react to Dumbledore – well, no actually I don't – I already know, hehe. It's just all you readers out there who have no idea what's in store. Right ahem, sorry. Anyway, what did you all think about the occlumency lesson? Do you think it was genuine enough and Harry and Snape seemed in character?
Just one last thing. This story has recently been accepted onto Fiction Alley (Schnoogle), and although it currently only has two chapters up there, they are without grammar and spelling errors, AND they have extra bits added in to make it flow better. Later chapters will even have added scenes. So, if anybody reads stories on Schnoogle, I would really appreciate if people read and review there too if they wanted! Thank you!! And please keep reading and reviewing here too, of course!!
As usual, thanks goes to xxGinnyxx, nana-Hedwig, Numba1, Grahhamm, ?, Bellatrix013, Amber16, mrs-osbourne's-class, and rachel19 for reviewing.
And an extended thanks to:
Emma Victoria Arden: My new favourite reviewer for this story!! Honestly, lol. I only keep on writing because I know there are actually people out there who read it. Anyway, yes, I'm also one of those people who loves to hate Snape. He's just got so many layers, and it's fun to expand out on his character, which I'll be doing later on in this story … much later on, that is. He can't change in one night. And I guess I did make Ron and Hermione a bit blatant last chapter, didn't I? I tried to keep it to JKR's discreet hints, but it was much more fun this way. I always got the impression that Harry knew about Ron's crush on Hermione, anyway. Oh, and it might take a while for Ron to finally admit anything, so you might have to be a bit patient. Uh next thing - Tonks lesson will definitely be interesting – next chapter though. Okay, well thanks again for reviewing. Also, I hope you liked the timetable and that on my yahoo group … if you read them!
Alexis-Lee: Lol, don't worry. I went through the same thing with a fifth year story and the real thing! Everything was a jumbled mess in my brain, he he. I'm glad you think it's believable though … really … because I want it to be as realistic as possible without seeming to copy lots from the other books. Also, I liked that Snape part too … if I managed to say it right. I realised after you reviewed I left out a word, lol. You might like more from this chapter as well – lots of Harry and Snape dialogue!! Thanks for reviewing!
SPASH Panther: Yeah, Harry was rather angry, but he has to let it all out before he can begin to grow up and put everything behind him, so to speak. Anyway, thanks for reviewing!
Prongs79: Ah, I'm so sorry for not emailing you sooner, but I managed to get a beta reader as soon as I wrote the chapter. It would have been you if I had seen your review straight away, but ff.net was down for a few days. Again, I'm really sorry, and I hope you continue to read!
Jac: No, Ron and Hermione aren't going out … yet. Ron's too stubborn to realise it at the moment. Thanks for reviewing!
dragonsprincess: Yes, of course Snape could think of another less unpleasant way to set up occlumency lessons … but then again it wouldn't be Snape if he did, would it? And I think there is a slight possibility of Harry surprising himself wink wink. Lastly, about Dumbledore; you'll find out next chapter about him. Harry's going to have a little chat – just thought I'd give you another little hint. Anyway, thanks for reviewing again! Loved it!
Aliba: Hmm, that's what I thought too. I'll go back to it when I have the time. I'm currently revising the chapters anyway for Schnoogle.
BlindJedi: No problem, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. R/Hr, personally is my own preference, because of all the little hints JKR seems to write in her books. I also think that though someone may be more intelligent than their significant other, it doesn't necessarily mean that they'll grow bored of them. Ron has his own little talents and quirks … his imperfections might only make Hermione like him more, lol. Anyway, feel free to share your opinion more, and thanks for reviewing. I hope you keep on reading!
Aragorn821: Thank you so very much! I'm flattered! What you wrote in your review was exactly what I hoped people would see it as, so I'm definitely happy! Also, I am planning on writing a sequel to this book – I've already got ideas that will stem from this story. It's just a matter of finishing this story first, which might take a while, as you can see. I'm hoping for it to be a JKR length novel! I hope you stick around that long.
Kateydidn't: Thanks for your review! Especially coming from a talented author such as yourself!