Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own any of J.K. Rowling's characters, places, items...the list goes on and on.
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Chapter 9 – "Rough Day"
The next morning Harry awoke with a headache. He grumbled about his bed, his nightstand, and his socks as he dressed. Even with his glasses on, things were still a bit fuzzy. His vision cleared after he had successfully cursed out every item in the room under his breath. His roommates looked at him half awed, half scared.
"Um, mate, are you okay?" Ron asked finally.
"What makes you think I wouldn't be?" Harry snapped in reply as he headed for the common room.
When he finally got there, he felt a bit better at the sight of Silver and Hermione. He sat down next to Silver on the end of the couch, muttering a hello and rubbing his forehead.
"Harry! What's wrong?" Silver asked, and she was echoed by Hermione.
"Dream. Headache," he answered shortly.
"You had a dream? About V...V..." Hermione hesitated to say his name.
"Yes!" he snapped, "Now just leave me alone!"
Silver sympathetically squeezed his shoulder, and then put her arms around him. He felt his anger ebbing away as she whispered sweetly into his ear, "Don't be mad."
"Sorry," he replied gruffly.
"Do you want to tell me about the dream?" she asked, pulling away slightly and looking into his eyes.
"How do you expect me to say no when you're looking at me like that?" he replied, although he was more amused than exasperated.
She smiled in response. Harry related his dream to her from beginning to end, not leaving anything out. Ron and Hermione were both listening intently, as well. Silver didn't seem scared by the dream in the least.
"Well, we knew they were after me, didn't we?" she asked smartly.
"Yeah, I suppose," Harry admitted, absentmindedly playing with her hair.
"Let's go get our schedules and eat breakfast," Hermione suggested.
Harry was in a much better mood as they got their schedules, but he groaned when he looked at it.
"I hate having Potions on Mondays," he groaned, "What a way to start off the week."
"At least we have it last, mate," Ron comforted.
Harry peered over at Silver's schedule and was very pleased that they had all of the same classes. She glanced up at him, smiling.
"We have all our classes together," he informed her, trying not to be too happy about the look of delight on her face when he told her so.
"Come on, let's go eat," Ron said, "Otherwise we'll be late to class. Care of Magical Creatures, first thing."
Harry wondered exactly what kind of magical creatures Hagrid had in store for them. As they sat down, owls began swooping in. Hedwig came in and nipped Harry's ear affectionately, although she didn't have any letters for him. He offered her some of his bacon and she accepted delightedly.
"Ooh, look!" Silver exclaimed.
Harry looked up to see a very proud looking Esperanza come sailing in carrying not one, but two letters.
Silver gave the owl a kiss on the head, and Harry felt a bit jealous, but he was more interested in her letters. Hedwig gave a proud hoot for no apparent reason. Silver handed him one of the letters.
"It's for you, Esperanza just wanted to carry it, so Hedwig let him," she explained.
Harry decided that Silver had a weird owl, but didn't say anything. "Thanks," he said, opening it to discover that it was from Lupin.
Harry,
Hope you're having a good time! Molly and Arthur invited me to come to their house for a while, but I know Sirius would want me to fix up headquarters. It should be quite a job fixing this place for human habitation. Moody and Molly are coming to help me every Monday and Wednesday, and I've decided to spend Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Burrow. Fridays and the weekend, however, will be solely devoted to either this old house, or visiting you.
See you soon!
"Lupin"
Harry grinned. He supposed it was a bit odd that he called Lupin by his surname, but it was the same as calling Dumbledore Dumbledore.
"Yours from Lupin, too?" he asked.
"Yep," Silver confirmed. He glanced over and was slightly happy at the fact that his was longer.
Esperanza and Hedwig flew off together after they had hooted their goodbyes, and the first bell rang to get to class.
"Well," Hermione said, sounding a bit scared, "Care of Magical Creatures, year six."
The foursome walked out to Hagrid's hut and were both scared and curious when he told them he had a "special surprise".
He led them to the back, and Harry was surprised at what he saw. Five palomino horses the twice the size of normal ones were grazing in a makeshift pasture. Harry was surprised he hadn't seen them over Hagrid's hut. He recognized them as the same type of horses that pulled the Beauxbatons carriages. As they passed Malfoy, Harry couldn't help but get a kick out of hearing him mutter, "Bloody hell, they're big. They're really big."
He completely missed Hagrid's explanation of what, exactly, the creatures were, as one of them lifted it's head, let out an earsplitting whinny, and began to gallop the pasture fence, causing it's pasture mates to join in. The ground shook, and Harry thought for a moment they were trying to shake the pasture wall down. A few screams were echoed as everyone ran away from the fence, but Silver ran up towards them. The leader stopped and looked in her direction, it's entire body alert.
"Come here," Silver encouraged.
Immediately the horses began to trot towards her, the leader breaking into a canter as it neared. It stopped in front of her and lowered it's gigantic head so that she could pet it. It's head is bigger than her entire body, Harry groaned to himself. Hagrid was completely transfixed.
"Can yer...can yer talk to them?" he asked rapturously.
"Yes," she replied, smiling up at him.
Hagrid went into absolute transports of delight.
"So they'll let yer ride them, then!" he exclaimed.
"Yes," Silver said eagerly, ignoring the pointed you're-going-to-get- yourself-killed look Harry was giving her.
"Well go on, then!" Hagrid exclaimed. Grinning, Silver said something to the horse, which immediately turned sideways for her to get on.
"Now wait a minute!" Harry interrupted, glaring at Hagrid, "Are you sure they're safe?"
"Absolutely, Harry!" Hagrid exclaimed, "They've never done anything to me...well, maybe once or twice, but I didn't fall hard..."
To Harry's dismay, Silver had already climbed up the fence and managed to jump onto the horse's back.
"Don't worry, Harry," she called down to him, "I'm quite a good rider."
She grabbed a handful of the horse's mane and clucked. It trotted for a few strides and then broke into a canter. Harry's heart was in his throat. Silver looked over her shoulder and the horse obediently turned in a circle the direction she was looking. As they passed, Silver leaned forward slightly, and it was all the urging the horse needed to break into a gallop. They went so fast that it hardly looked like the horse's feet were touching the ground. Silver wasn't lying, she was a good rider. She looked as if she were part of the horse. Harry was halfway between being utterly transfixed by the beautiful picture and completely terrified for Silver's life. Soon the terror was beginning to get the better of him – he was beginning to think she wouldn't be able to stop the horse, but she sat back as she neared him and he heard her utter a solitary, "Whoa" and the horse stopped directly in front of him. Beaming at him, she slid off the horse's back and into his arms.
"That was fun," she said breathlessly.
"Don't ever do that again," he replied seriously.
She laughed.
"I'm serious," he told her.
"If you say so," she replied, "But it was a lot of fun." She stuck her lower lip out and Harry sighed resignedly.
"Maybe one day," he relented.
Hagrid was watching with amusement.
"Want to take a spin, Harry?" he teased.
"Don't even joke about that," Harry replied.
Nobody else volunteered to ride the horses, because after Silver got off of hers, it proceeded to run to it's pasture mates and get them all involved in a rather dangerous fit of bucking and rearing.
"They're just having fun," Silver tried to convince everyone.
Their next class was History of Magic, which was utterly boring. They entertained themselves by throwing crumpled balls of paper at each other's heads, as well as occasionally Neville's, but when he looked back around, flustered and annoyed, they would be innocently taking notes.
Divination went fairly well, too. Professor Trelwaney predicted Harry's death, as usual, but then informed them that to refresh their inner eye they were going to go back to crystal ball reading. Silver and Ron had it easy – they simply predicted terrible deaths for Harry. As payback, Harry decided to make Ron die during a crash on the Knight Bus and Silver get trampled by a giant horse.
Lunch went well, but as soon as the bell rang Harry felt dread in the pit of his stomach. Potions.
He, Ron, and Hermione sulked as they walked to class, but Silver was particularly upbeat.
"Come on, guys, you know you've been dying to visit him," she teased as they walked down into the dungeons.
They walked in to a silent classroom. It was extremely dark and hard to see, but Harry could make out Snape's figure in the front of the classroom. To Harry's dismay, Silver insisted on sitting towards the front, and Harry followed reluctantly. He sat next to Silver, who looked attentively towards Snape. Once everyone had been seated, an eerie light began to flow through the two round windows at the front of the room that Harry was certain was not sunlight. Snape rapped on the board, and a few people jumped. Harry notice that Silver seemed slightly unsettled.
"Welcome to N.E.W.T. Potions, sixth year," Snape said in a completely unwelcoming voice. He began to walk up and down the aisles, occasionally ramming his fist down on a desk and scaring a student.
"You are all here because you have met with my satisfaction in your previous Potions class – although I think I may have let some of you in against my better judgment." His eyes rested on Harry for a moment. Harry squirmed uncomfortably.
Snape went on to tell them that none of them had the finesse required for making potions, that they were all dunderheads, and that he would do his best to teach them anyhow.
"Now," Snape said, as the lights became brighter, "Please follow the directions on the board."
He flicked his wand and words appeared on the board for one of the most complex potions Harry had ever seen – what was worse, it wasn't labeled, which meant lots of research trying to figure out what they had made that night. He glanced at Silver to see her staring at Snape with a shocked look on her face. Well, she couldn't expect him to be a big softie in front of everybody, he thought to himself. Still, he felt a need to comfort her. He opened his mouth to speak when she transferred her gaze from Snape to the directions on the board. A determined spark flashed in her eye and she began to brew. Harry decided not to say anything after all, and got started on his own potion. After the classroom became talkative again, Harry's cauldron was suddenly cast into shadows. He looked up to see Malfoy standing near Silver.
"Hello there," he was saying in a much too friendly voice.
Silver glared at him.
"You know, you shouldn't believe everything Potter tells you," Malfoy said, "He just knows I'm a better kisser." He leaned closer to her and she stepped away.
"Come on, baby," Malfoy whispered. He reached for her with a menacing look in his eye.
Harry dug into his robes, pulled out his wand. Malfoy raised his, as well, but not before Harry bellowed, "Expelliarmus!" Malfoy's wand shot out of his hand and he flew back against the wall. He let out a long string of hexes, but it was no use without his wand. Malfoy got up and started towards Harry. "Furnunculus!" Harry said, rage bubbling up inside of him, "Petrificus Totalus!" Malfoy sprouted large boils all over his head and neck and then fell, rigid, facedown on the floor.
"Harry," Silver whispered, looking both shocked and admiring.
Harry's cauldron was cast into shadows again, and this time when he looked up, it was Snape. "Detention. With me. Six to nine. Tonight and tomorrow." Snape looked bitterly angry.
Harry began to look down in defeat, but suddenly he looked back up. "Sorry, sir, I can't tonight," he replied a bit too cheerfully.
Snape raised his eyebrows.
"I have to go to Dumbledore's office at six tonight, sir," Harry informed him.
"Well then after class, you will stay here and serve your detention then," Snape replied coolly, "You will be dismissed at five fifty."
Harry nodded mutely and angrily. Snape held out his hand and Harry gave him Malfoy's wand.
"Crabbe, Goyle, take young Mr. Malfoy to the hospital wing," Snape spat at them, shoving Malfoy's wand into Crabbe's hand.
Harry was barely able to finish his potion, and although it was supposed to be blue by the end, his was a very deep shade of green. Silver's was a light sky blue, and, although not perfect, was very good. He complimented her halfheartedly as they bottled their samples and walked to the front. They lined up, Silver just in front of him.
"Miss Riddle," Snape said with no particular attachment when she came up. He took her potion, eyed it from all angles, and then uncorked it and sniffed it. "Excellent," he informed her. She beamed at him and he blinked back emotionlessly.
Harry tried not to be too worried as he handed Snape his. Ever since he had taken it out of his cauldron, it had been turning steadily greener.
"I think it looks more blue in the heat," he told Snape.
Snape's eyes snapped up to look at him. Was there a flicker of amusement there? They both looked at Harry's potion, which was now a light grass green. Snape held it up to his small desk lamp, and under the heat from the light it began to grow steadily darker, until it was the perfect shade of blue. Harry tried to register the look in Snape's eyes. Snape set the bottle down on his desk and said, "We will discuss this during your detention, Potter." Harry nodded disappointedly and returned to sit next to Silver.
"What did you get?" asked Silver, who had been watching interestedly.
"He didn't say," Harry replied, "He just told me we would discuss it during detention."
"Oh," she replied softly.
"I am never going to finish my homework," Harry sighed.
"I can help you with your History of Magic essay," she offered, "and Divination homework will be easy, you just have to think of different ways to say you're going to die."
He shrugged.
Snape informed them that he wanted a three foot long parchment on the potion they had just made, why and when it was used, and which ingredients were particularly rare. Silver gave Harry a sympathetic look.
When the bell rang, Silver stayed with Harry until every other student had filed out of class except for Pansy Parkinson, who was deliberately packing slowly, watching Silver suspiciously. Silver stood defiantly next to Harry, determined to wait Pansy out.
"Miss Riddle," Snape said impatiently, "Class is dismissed, and unless you have a reason for acting like Mr. Potter's shadow, I suggest you leave."
"Fine," Silver replied indignantly, "I'll be back at five fifty, Harry."
She turned on her heel and walked away, and Pansy mysteriously finished packing as well and followed her out. Harry turned to glare at Snape.
"Come here, Mr. Potter," Snape said in a bored voice.
Harry stalked up to his desk.
"Do you have any idea what you've made here?" Snape asked curiously.
Harry shook his head.
"You have succeeded in making one of the most useful potions of the century," Snape informed him, "A Muscle Relief potion. I daresay Madam Pomfrey will be very pleased."
Harry looked up in surprise. Where was the bite in Snape's voice, the menace?
"You are excused from tonight's homework, since it would be much too easy for you to write an essay on the potion you have just created," Snape told him, his voice emotionless, "However, I suggest you ask Miss Granger which potion you were supposed to have made, and study up on it, because there may be a pop quiz on Wednesday."
Harry gaped. Snape had excused him from homework. Snape had told him he had done something useful. Snape had just told him that he was going to give a pop quiz on Wednesday. Something was very, very wrong. Snape looked up at met his eye.
"Do you have any homework, Mr. Potter?" Snape asked.
Harry nodded dumbly.
"I suggest you get to work on it, then," Snape replied. The tone of voice he used was almost – courteous.
Harry walked numbly back to his desk and took out his Divination homework and workbook.
"By the way," Snape added suddenly, "Nice wandwork. Next time I would recommend something a bit more painful, though."
Snape's voice wasn't pleasant or friendly, but neither was it cold or harsh. Harry gaped up at him. Snape looked at him evenly.
"Well are you going to do your homework or not?" he demanded, "Because I have plenty of things that need cleaning!"
Harry returned his gaze to his Divination homework, but it took him about five minutes before he could actually concentrate enough to work on it. He was surprised that the quietness of the dungeons helped him to concentrate, and the coolness seemed to keep him energized. The only sounds were that of Snape leafing through a book, and it was an oddly relaxing noise.
At five o' clock Harry had successfully finished all of his homework. He looked up at Professor Snape, who was sneering at what Harry supposed was an incompetent Potions book.
"Um, Professor Snape?" Harry asked.
Snape looked highly annoyed at being disturbed. "Yes?" he asked, some of the usual bite in his voice.
"I've finished my homework," he ventured.
"Bring it here," was the bored reply.
Harry brought Snape his Divination chart and his History of Magic essay. Snape looked at the Divination chart with something akin to sick amusement.
"I daresay your next few weeks do not look very good, Potter," he commented.
"Yeah, well, I'll die with an Outstanding in Divination," Harry replied, surprising himself with his boldness. Apparently he caught Snape's attention as well, for Snape looked over the chart at him amazingly quickly. Then he set down the Divination chart and picked up the History of Magic essay.
"Re-read the third paragraph, Potter," he instructed, "It has good information, but you've used rubbish writing techniques." He thrust the parchment at Harry. "Can you tell me what you've done wrong?" he inquired.
Harry read the third paragraph carefully. "I didn't put it in chronological order," he said after a few moments.
"Fix it," Snape commanded.
Harry pulled his wand out and used it to re-direct some of the sentences. Then he handed it back to Snape wordlessly. Snape read the full two feet of parchment before handing it back.
"Put your homework away and then come back," he instructed.
Harry went and stuffed his homework into his bag, wondering at the fact that Snape hadn't threatened him at all yet – in fact, Snape had helped him with his homework. He walked back up to Snape's desk feeling very confused.
"You will go to the library and retrieve these books for me," Snape said, thrusting a piece of paper at him.
Harry nodded mutely and left the dungeons. He glanced at the paper as he walked.
I, Severus Snape, give the sixth year student Harry Potter permission to retrieve the following books from the restricted section of the library:
Dangerous Brews for Witty Wizards
Do You Want to Boil Pain?
Occlumency: The Expert's Book of Tricks and Tips
As well as the following books from the regular section of the library:
Advanced Potions for Idiots
Basic Occlumency
Harry arrived at the library in a sense of awe that Snape trusted him to get books from the restricted section. When he arrived, Pansy Parkinson and her group of friends looked at him interestedly. Ignoring them, he got the two books from the regular section, and then went to the librarian, Madam Pince.
"Um, Professor Snape gave me this note to get books from the Restricted Section," he said, interrupting a conversation she was having with Professor McGonagall.
Both women looked at him as if he were crazy. Madam Pince grabbed the note from him and held it up to the light.
"It certainly looks like his writing, Minerva," she commented.
Professor McGonagall snatched the piece of paper and did the exact same thing, pushing her glasses into various positions as she did so. Then she looked down at Harry sternly.
"Professor Snape gave you this?" she asked suspiciously.
"Yes, ma'm," Harry replied politely.
"Very well then," she said in a voice that clearly said she didn't believe him.
Harry retrieved the books from the Restricted Section, knowing that he was being watched like a hawk the whole time, and then headed back towards the dungeons. He heard footsteps behind him and knew he was being followed. He didn't feel like being questioned, and sprinted the rest of the way to Snape's classroom, arriving terribly out of breath.
Snape looked up at him with his usual sneer.
"Trying to get in shape, Potter?" he asked.
"Yeah..." Harry panted, "For...Quidditch...gotta be...fit."
Snape gave him an amused look before taking the books from him and looking at them carefully.
"Well, you've managed to get the right books," he said.
Harry was still gasping for breath. Snape shoved the two books from the regular section of the library into his hands.
"These are for you," he informed him, "Get started."
Harry glanced down at them. He was staring at a green and gold book entitled Advanced Potions for Idiots.
"Why would an idiot be in Advanced Potions?" he grumbled.
"You tell me," Snape replied, smirking.
Harry glared at him and looked at the other book: Basic Occlumency.
"What does this one do? Try to invade your mind as you read it?" he asked suspiciously.
"No, Potter, it gives you helpful hints on the subject," Snape replied, sounding annoyed.
Harry sat down, attempting to deny that he desperately needed both of the books. Finally he admitted it to himself and looked up at Snape. Snape was staring back at him.
"Which one should I read first?" he asked resignedly.
"I would suggest Occlumency," Snape replied, "It may help you in your session with Dumbledore."
Harry opened the book to the first chapter, How Occlumency Works.
"And, Potter...when you've finished with that let me know."
Harry nodded and continued reading. He heard Snape opening up a book and glanced up to see which one it was. It was Occlumency: The Expert's Book of Tricks and Tips. Harry returned to his book, marveling at the fact that he and Snape hadn't yet had a yelling match.
He was on the third chapter when he heard the door swing open. He glanced behind him to see Silver.
"Hi, Harry," she said, beaming.
"Hi," he replied.
For a moment he thought she was going to come sit with him, then she saw that she was walking toward Snape.
"It's five forty-five," Snape commented.
"I know," she replied. She walked up and threw her arms around him by way of greeting. He looked vaguely uncomfortable.
Silver stood up and looked down at him. Snape looked back up at her, but didn't say anything.
"I missed you," she informed him.
"Rubbish," he replied.
"I did!" she insisted, "I haven't seen you since yesterday morning!"
Snape looked skeptical.
"Did you miss me?" she asked.
Snape looked up at her, and Harry knew he was wondering if she wanted him to answer that question truthfully. She gazed down at him with her innocent brown eyes and Snape looked resigned.
"Yes," he sighed.
She threw her arms around him again, and this time he hugged her back a little. Harry tried very hard not to grin at Snape's obvious pleasure in having her miss him so openly. He didn't succeed, and Snape gave him a threatening glare. When Silver pulled away she was smiling brightly at him. Snape didn't look as if he wholeheartedly approved of such a bright smile, but he couldn't help but give her a smile in return.
"Alright, off with you now," he said halfheartedly.
"Can I come back?" she asked sweetly.
"Yes," he replied, trying to hide his anticipation.
She beamed at him, and then turned to Harry. "Come on," she said brightly.
He gathered up his things and walked with her to the door, where she turned to him.
"Well?" she demanded, "Aren't you going to say goodbye to each other? You won't see each other until Wednesday."
Which is still too soon, Harry thought, as he turned to Snape and mumbled, "Bye."
"Bye." Snape replied just as sullenly.
Smiling, Silver led him out and they began walking toward Dumbledore's office. Harry told her about the strange detention as they went.
"See?" she said, "He's not as much of a git, is he?"
Harry smiled. "Not today," he relented.
"Sugar Quill," Silver announced brightly to the gargoyle as they arrived in front of Dumbledore's office.
Harry suddenly wondered how he knew her way around so well. "How do you know where his office is? And all the classrooms!" he added, remembering how she had led the way to many of them.
She leaned close to him as they climbed up the stairs and whispered, "This is where they hid me."
Realization dawned in Harry's eyes. "Oh," he said, "But how did everyone Apparate here – you can't do that inside of Hogwarts."
"They Apparated to Hogsmeade and came here from the Shrieking Shack," she replied.
"Oh," Harry said again.
They reached the door to Dumbledore's office and before they could reach for the knob, it opened.
"Come in, Harry, Silver," Dumbledore invited. They obediently walked in.
Dumbledore addressed Silver first. "Ah, Miss Riddle," he said, "You look lovely today." Silver blushed. "How has your first day gone?" he asked courteously.
"Very well," she replied sincerely, "I love it here."
Dumbledore smiled. "I suspected you would," he said.
For a moment there was silence, and then he added, "Thank you for bringing Mr. Potter here. You may come back to get him at nine, if you wish."
Harry inwardly groaned. Three hours of Occlumency? He tried to remember some of the pointers he had read in his book.
Silver nodded and disappeared out the door with a smile and a "See you soon," to Harry.
Dumbledore then turned to him. "Sit, Harry," he invited, gesturing to two fluffy armchairs that sat facing each other in front of his desk.
Hesitantly Harry sat down. Was Dumbledore trying to save him the pain of falling?
"Now, Harry, as I'm sure Severus has told you, it is best to clear your mind before practicing Occlumency. Now, one of the best ways to gain a clear mind is to talk to somebody. Therefore, Harry, I would like to ask you if there is anything you would like to tell me before we begin?"
Memories of Lupin's letter, Malfoy hitting on Silver, Silver's odd attitude about her Sorting, and Snape's interesting behavior hit Harry in waves.
"No, Professor, there's no-"he began, but then he stopped. "Well, maybe there are a few things," he admitted. He proceeded to spill his guts to Dumbledore.
Dumbledore listened intently, but only offered his advice on the subject of Lupin and Snape.
"Well, Harry," Dumbledore said, "You are right in thinking that Lupin will be lonely at headquarters by himself. But really, he is going to be quite occupied, and it seems that he already has planned to spend company with others for a good portion of his week. I think you will find that Lupin does not get frustrated as easily as Sirius did, nor is he actually confined to the house. He can get up and leave whenever the urge strikes him."
Harry found that Dumbledore was right – he had been worrying about Lupin for no reason.
"And Harry, I would advise you to keep your cool around Professor Snape," Dumbledore said, a twinkle in his eye as he reminded Harry of Snape's proper title. "The young lady whom you cherish also means much to him. I think you should have realized by now that she is healing him. Already the changes she has made in his heart are becoming evident to you."
Harry nodded. "Alright," he said, and then, "I think I'm ready."
"Good, good," Dumbledore agreed, standing up. "Over here, if you please, Harry."
Harry went a distance away from the chairs to a section of the floor that had been emptied.
"Now," Dumbledore said, "Although you have already been introduced to Occlumency, let me go over it with you. It is not the power to read minds, but the power to extract memories, and, in Voldemort's case, get valuable memories. When you are a talented Occlumens, such as Professor Snape, you will be able to lie in Voldemort's presence without him detecting it. You can also protect your own memories, something that will come in very useful."
Suddenly Harry interrupted him. "Professor Dumbledore, I had a dream last night!" he exclaimed, wondering how he could have forgotten. He proceeded to tell Dumbledore about his dream.
"I suspect you didn't clear your mind before going to bed?" Dumbledore asked.
"No," Harry admitted.
"Well, take care that you do it tonight," Dumbledore replied, giving Harry no explanation for his dream whatsoever.
Before Harry could ask, though, Dumbledore announced, "On the count of three, then!"
Harry fought to clear his mind. What was Dumbledore not saying, and why?
"One..."
Dumbledore should have at least told him about his own dream!
"Two..."
Harry pushed it out of his mind and began to think desperately for a curse that would get Dumbledore out of his mind.
"Three. Legilimens!"
Harry was reading a letter from the Ministry of Magic telling him he had been expelled from Hogwarts for using the Patronus charm...He was sitting in court, wondering why Dumbledore wasn't looking at him...he was watching blood ooze from his hand as he engraved the words, "I must not tell lies" onto his own hand...and then, he was in the Mysteries department of the Ministry of Magic, watching as Sirius battled with Bellatrix Lestrange. "Is that the best you can do?" Sirius asked his cousin gleefully. Then, a beam hit him square on the chest. He was falling into the veil...
"SIRIUS!" Harry bellowed as he felt himself fall to the floor, "NO! SAVE HIM! RESCUE HIM!"
Harry felt a fresh wave of grief wash over him. Tears stung at his eyes as he thought of the last few moments of his godfather's life.
"Harry," Dumbledore was saying, much too calmly, "Harry!"
Harry looked up, his eyes stinging with tears. He could only make out Dumbledore's figure through the blur. They spilled from his eyes, embarrassing him, but he could not make them stop. Dumbledore helped him into a fluffy armchair and he managed to stifle the tears spilling down his cheeks. He wiped them away, annoyed at himself for getting so emotional. When he looked at Dumbledore, Dumbledore was studying him intently. Harry's mind began to spin. Why was he sitting in an armchair? Sirius would never have accepted defeat so easily!
Harry jumped up. "I want to try again," he said fiercely.
"Are you sure?" was Dumbledore's calm reply.
"Yes."
Dumbledore stood up and walked with him to where they had been before. "On three, then."
"One..."
Harry imagined a windshield wiper wiping all the thoughts from his mind.
"Two..."
He thought of a huge, blank space.
"Three. Legilimens."
This time his mind jumped straight to Sirius. Again, he heard his godfather's voice. "Is that the best you can do?" Harry watched as he got hit with the beam, right in the chest, and fell backwards. Dumbledore's figure was present just beyond the scene. Get to Dumbledore, he told himself, Dumbledore. Dumbledore was becoming clearer and clearer, until he looked at Sirius' face as he fell. Immediately Dumbledore disappeared.
"Sirius," Harry gasped, trying to keep himself from falling. He fell to his knees, hard.
"That was much better!" Dumbledore said rather cheerfully.
Harry glared up at him. How dare he sound happy when he had just witnessed his godfather's death – twice.
"I must admit, Harry, I did not think in advance," Dumbledore announced, "I had forgotten that, due to recent events, your reaction to Occlumency is bound to be much stronger. That particular memory has the power to destroy you."
The way Dumbledore said it did not make Harry feel safe at all.
"Next time, we will use the Penseive, I think," Dumbledore added.
Harry felt weak and sick to his stomach.
"Harry," Dumbledore asked, "Would you mind doing me another favor? Please go inform Professor Snape that I wish to meet him in my office in thirty minutes."
Harry nodded, although going back into the dungeons wasn't what he felt like doing.
"Very well, Harry, next Wednesday please come back at the same time for a more thought-out lesson in Occlumency," Dumbledore said cheerfully.
Harry nodded, feeling that talking would only allow him to throw up. He left Dumbledore's room without so much as a goodbye, and when he finally arrived outside the door to Snape's dungeon, he leaned against the cool wall, taking deep breaths and trying not to let dizziness take over him. He almost went in when he remembered that Silver had come back to talk to Snape. Not wanting to interrupt anything private, he knocked.
After a few seconds, Snape's voice came. "Come in."
He obeyed. Silver was standing by Snape's chair, and they were both looking at him as if he had dropped off of another planet.
"Harry!" she exclaimed, "What happened? Why aren't you with Dumbledore?"
"He let me go early," Harry said, grabbing on to a desk as another, stronger wave of nausea swept over him and the room became fuzzy.
Silver hurried over to him but he held his hand out, not wanting to throw up all over her. He dashed to a trash can in the corner of the room and wretched into it. He was rather surprised that he made it, seeing as he could hardly see a thing. Snape disappeared into his private storage room. Harry felt as if he were going to be sick again, and hovered over the trash can, waiting. Snape reappeared with a small vial of purple potion that glowed in the otherwise blurred room. Harry looked at him distrustfully as he held it out.
"Just drink it, Potter," Snape said, his eyes flashing with impatience.
Harry was surprised to find that it tasted rather good. It was like icy cold fruit juice. As he sipped, he felt the dizziness and nausea slipping away. His vision became clearer and he felt more focused. He emptied the vial and looked around, surprised at the difference it made with his vision.
"Thanks," he said, appreciating the fact that Snape was a Potions master for the first time.
"Just don't throw up in my classroom anymore," was Snape's sour response. Silver threw him a reproachful glance.
"What happened, Harry?" she asked concernedly.
"My memory of Sirius dying was too powerful," he said. The words "Sirius" and "dying" made him dry mouthed. He made his way to a seat in the back of the class and sat down.
"Oh, Harry," she said, her voice full of emotion. She made as if to hug him, but Snape held her back.
"Not so soon after he drank the potion," he said, "He'll just start to feel sick again if you squeeze him to death."
Silver gazed at Snape amusedly, but replied with "Okay."
"Dumbledore wants to see you in half an hour," Harry told Snape.
"All right," Snape replied, glancing at the clock, "You should stay here until then, Potter – if you try to go up to your room you'll be sick again."
"Why did it make me sick?" Harry asked.
"Well, the memory makes you feel sick in the first place, correct?"
Harry nodded.
"It was that combined with the fact that you were fighting a mental invasion. How many times did you see it?"
"Twice," Harry answered.
Snape's eyes were full of disapproval.
"Dumbledore never should have let you see that twice," he said.
"I forced him to," Harry answered, "I wanted to be strong...like Sirius." His last two words were barely a whisper.
"Foolish Gryffindor pride," Snape snapped.
Silver gave him a warning look and he stopped and sat down in the seat across from Harry. Silver sat down in the seat in front of him, reaching over and rubbing his shoulder gently.
"You've just had a rough day," she said softly.
Harry pushed his hands through his messy black hair, feeling that the term "rough day" was an understatement.
"I bet you didn't use a single tip from the book," Snape accused, "Am I right?"
Harry nodded tiredly.
"Read it, Potter. It helped me in the same situation it needs to help you."
Harry looked up at Snape and realized for the first time that he was right. Snape had to lie to Voldemort's face on a regular basis.
"Why are you helping me?" Harry croaked.
"Because I want to," Snape answered, and Harry didn't push the matter.
He pressed his forehead against the desk, feeling its coldness sweep through him, and the world drifted away, leaving him alone in a world of darkness.