Chapter 3: Legilimens Patefacta

Snape stared at Dumbledore with the expression of an animal trapped in a cage. His eyes fixed on the old wizard's wand tip he said softly: "And I suppose you honestly believe you are doing me a favour with this. Tell me Albus, how come that every time you stick a hand into the fire for me I end up getting burnt?"

Dumbledore didn't reply and Harry couldn't help feeling that it was because he didn't have an answer to that question. Right now, in this particular moment, he didn't like the headmaster.

There were no impressive wand movements, no complicated figures carved into thin air by sparks of lightning. Dumbledore simply straightened up, fixed his gaze steadily on Snape's eyes and said in a sonorous voice that seemed to pierce Harry's ears "Legilimens Patefacta!"

"What the …" started Ron. Hermione inhaled sharply, as did almost all of the witches and wizards assembled in the entrance hall. Harry noticed Snape shutting his eyes closed and pressing himself flat against the wall as if trying to hide from the spell that had obviously just been cast on him. He, Harry, was only too familiar with Legilimens, having suffered the penetration of his mind more than once at the hands of exactly the same man he was presently on the verge of feeling pity for.

The necessity of asking omniscient Hermione for an explanation for the added "Patefacta" was taken from him as a thin line of shiny particles made their way from Dumbledore's wand to Snape's forehead, penetrating the sallow skin without meeting any obvious resistance. A split second later they shot back out again with double the speed, expanding into an enormous bubble that hung in the middle of the hallway. Misty clouds of something raw and undefined swirled inside and an eerie light suddenly filled the room. Apart from the size and the sudden drop of temperature the appearance had created it reminded Harry very much of a Pensieve.

"I can't believe he's doing that. It's considered to be Dark Arts." Hermione's voice was almost inaudible, which was probably for the best. Silence filled the room, penetrated only by sudden sharp intakes of breath coming from the Potions Master. His eyes were still tightly closed, although that didn't seem to stop the other wizard from entering his mind, forcing painful and thwarting memories onto the surface of the shiny bubble. Snape was obviously putting up a fight, for there were beads of sweat on Dumbledore's temple. Nevertheless, the younger man was losing the battle. Blurred pictures were forming inside the bubble, faces appeared and disappeared, sounds and voices echoed as if from far away.

With a last heart wrenching sob Snape surrendered and slumped against the wall, sustained only by Mad Eye Moody and Bill Weasley who grabbed him without even looking at him. Their full attention, just like everybody else's, was on the scenes that were just beginning to form before them. Dumbledore alone still faced Snape, his eyes closed by now, his mind obviously wandering through another man's mind with a determination and a lack of scruple that made Harry shiver.

Sorry the chapter is so short; free time was a luxury this weekend. I promise I'll try to come to the interesting, tissue-worthy parts within the next week.

Thanks to all those who read and reviewed. Thanks also to my very own Potions Master, who came up with the wonderful "Legilimens Patefacta".

Melissa Jooty: As you can see I learned from mistakes and altered the format. I haven't really made up my mind yet if Sev will be able to forgive Dumbledore – yet another time. You'll see. J

excessivelyperky: If you stick with me (and if I will be able to set enough time for me to the side for finally putting all this to paper L)you will find that Severus made this experience before with members of the Order. I haven't decided yet, if I will let him return to his former master or stick with the old one. Sometimes, in my eyes, they are not that different as far as the treatment of "our favourite greasehead" is concerned.