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Chapter 12: Open Opportunity

Harry and Hermione were quick to tell Ron about what they had learned. Ron, however, didn't seem to be the least bit worried.

"He'll never find out it's here unless somebody's a traitor," he said. "I hope Professor Edwards isn't really working for Voldemort, I like him," he added.

"Me too, but Voldemort can still find out by reading my mind," Harry reasoned.

"Harry, you're skilled in Occlumency now, don't worry," Hermione said. "Besides, there are other things to worry about," Harry and Ron looked at her, "the end of year exams!" she said, as if they should be already worrying too.

"Hermione, we might not even be alive to take them!" Ron joked. A silence followed those words; the trio slowly realized that they might be true. "I-I didn't mean it like that…I didn't mean it," Ron said.

"It's okay, we know," Harry said.

"If Voldemort does decide to come for the stone, that is if he finds out it's here, he'll have a lot of trouble getting through the entire school," Ron said.

"I'm sure he'll have help. Death Eaters, Dementors, and maybe even the Slytherins," Harry said.

"But still, all the teachers and the rest of the students is good amount of people," Ron said.

"That's true," Harry said. At that moment Dean Thomas came to join them, he looked crestfallen.

"Hey," he said.

"What's up?" Harry asked.

"Ginny broke up with me," he answered. Ron looked positively thrilled. Harry looked around the Common Room, searching for Neville. He was playing Exploding Snap with Seamus in the corner. It didn't look as if he had heard Dean.

"Aw, that's too bad, buddy," Ron said, trying to hide his smile.

"I'm sure she had good reason," Hermione said. "Not that you're bad or anything," she quickly added.

"Yeah, I guess," Dean sighed.

"Listen Dean, you're only sixteen. Trust me, there'll be others," Hermione soothed.

"Sure," Dean said, rising and heading for the dormitories. Dean didn't come back down for the rest of the night.

"Hey," it was Ginny.

"Gin, just heard you broke up with Dean!" Ron said proudly.

"Yeah, I just kind of lost interest in him," she said, her eyes darting to Neville in the corner and back again.

"Good, he wasn't good enough for you," Ron said.

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed.

"He wasn't! At least he wasn't to my standards," Ron defended.

"Ron, you don't have any standards…nobody's good enough for her!" Hermione said.

"Exactly!" Ron said. Ginny and Hermione rolled their eyes while Harry laughed.

"Okay Ron, be like that. I'm heading off to bed, goodnight," Hermione said, going to the girl's dormitories. Ginny soon followed.

"I guess we should head up, too," Harry said. He and Ron went to the dormitory to find Dean pretending to be asleep. They decided to leave him alone and climbed into bed. It didn't take long for Harry to fall asleep.

He was with Hermione, riding his broom.

"Oh Harry, isn't this lovely?" she said.

"Yeah,"

"Harry, where is the stone?" she asked.

"Huh? Hermione, you know where it is, you were the one to figure it out!"

"I forget, tell me where it is," something wasn't right. Harry became aware that this was no ordinary dream.

"I'm not telling," he said. Hermione's eyes glowed red and her nails became claws.

"WHERE IS IT?" she roared in a voice unlike her own. She reached out and grabbed Harry around his throat. "Tell me where it is!" Harry couldn't breathe, he couldn't move.

Harry woke up on the floor, his scar searing in pain.

"Harry! You okay?" Ron was at his side. Harry couldn't speak, not only was his scar in unbelievable pain, but he realized that he had told Voldemort something he shouldn't: Hermione knew the whereabouts of the stone. Harry knew that it had been Voldemort using a new method of Legilimency to extract information from Harry. He had been lucky in how fast he realized that it was.

"Ron…Ron, protect Hermione…he knows!" he said between gasps.

"Who knows what, Harry? Harry! What are you talking about?" Ron asked.

"Voldemort knows about Hermione! He knows that she figured out where the stone is…she's in danger!" Harry said.

"I'm getting Dumbledore," Harry could hear Neville say. Neville returned with Dumbledore a short while later.

"Harry, tell me about your dream," he said. Harry, now recovered, was sitting on his bed. He told Dumbledore everything. "Do not worry, Harry. Voldemort has always known that Hermione is very close to you, that's why he attacked her neighborhood, remember? He would also assume that she would know where the stone is, no doubt. As long as she stays here, she will be safe, I promise," he said once Harry had finished telling his dream. "I must admit, I'm pleasantly surprised you managed to defend yourself from Voldemort's dream. Professor Snape taught you well. Now I must be going, Harry. Goodnight to you all," he said, making his way towards the door.

"Goodnight, Professor," the boys said, getting back into bed. Harry lay down, not sure if he would be able to get back to sleep. He couldn't help but feel that Hogwarts was in direct danger of Voldemort's attacks, as was Hermione. Eventually, he fell into a dreamless sleep.

Harry told Hermione about his dream the moment he saw her the next morning. Surprisingly, she took it well. She comforted him in saying that Dumbledore was right about her being safe. After breakfast, they headed to Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"Wands out," Professor Edwards said when class began. The class was used to this command, as they had been last year with 'wands away' from Professor Umbridge. "Today, we will learn about offensive spells. I know that this class is entitled 'Defense Against the Dark Arts' but in order to defend, you must also attack," the class was spent practicing a new charm that would make the enemy temporary unable to see. They also learned how to take the spell off, which was lucky, for almost the entire class was already blind within ten minutes.

"Excellent work! I'm impressed by how well all of you learned this so fast," Professor Edwards said at the end of class. "No homework!"

Charms was as fun as Defense, they were now learning how to use objects to their advantage. The spell took enormous concentration, but if done correctly, it could bring an object to life to protect you as Dumbledore had done in the Ministry. Very few students could even get their object to come alive; Hermione's was obediently doing back flips, while Harry and Ron's were dueling. Professor Flitwick assigned the class to practice the charm until they had mastered it. He informed the class the he would be checking to see if they could do it when they had him again.

"No homework, two classes in a row!" Ron said happily as they left.

During dinner, Neville looked nervous.

"Anything wrong, Neville?" Harry asked so no one else could hear him.

"Oh, um…I was just thinking that now that Ginny was, y'know, open that I could maybe ask her out for the Hogsmeade trip," he said. Harry had forgotten about the Hogsmeade trip, which would take place the day of Halloween.

"Take my word for it, Neville, just ask her," Harry said, looking over at Hermione.

"Okay, I'll do it…okay…" he said, wringing hands underneath the table. "Okay, I'll ask after dinner,"

Harry wished he could have seen whether or not Neville successfully asked Ginny out on a date, but he had class with Snape. Harry was excited because he knew that he would finally be getting to Legilimency. He arrived a good five minutes early, Snape was already waiting for him.

"Alright, Potter, today you will be learning how to invade another's mind. I expect you to go about this with maturity and respect for others. This ability is not to be abused in any way. If you are caught using it unjustly, you will be on the next train home," Snape warned.

"Yes, Professor,"

"Very well, now let's begin. You are undoubtedly aware that the incantation to perform Legilimency is 'legilimens'. While you are saying this incantation, you must be focusing on who's mind you are trying to reach. I am allowing you to go through my own mind, Potter. I can control where you go, and therefore, am not worried you will stumble upon something you should not see. Go ahead, now, try it," Snape ordered.

Harry focused on Snape, thinking nothing but him. "Legilimens!" he cried. Harry suddenly found himself at Snape's graduation from Hogwarts. It was very much like looking into a Pensieve. Harry forced his mind to further roam Snape's memory. He was now many years later, Snape was teaching Potions. Harry was then pushed out of Snape's mind.

"Good, Potter. You managed to see into my memories. However, it was much too easy to get you out," Snape said.

"Try again, I will then try to force you out, and you must manage to stay in,"

The rest of the lesson was spent on Harry trying to get a hold in Snape's mind. Harry could manage to stay in Snape's memory for only a short while before he was forced back out.

"Not bad for the first lesson, Potter. Remember that the memories you saw were predetermined. The memories you will be seeking from your foes will be much harder to reach. You're dismissed,"

Harry rushed to the Common Room; Hermione was waiting for him. He told her everything about Legilimency before she even had the chance to ask. She was thrilled at Harry's progress.

"I'm jealous, I wish I could take Legilimency! It's such a fascinating and mysterious field of magic," she said.

"Don't be jealous, Hermione. It's not as much as it's said to be," Harry said. Hermione didn't look convinced, but chose to say nothing. She pulled her bag over and started on her homework.

Harry then searched the room for Neville; he found him reading by the fire.

"Neville, how'd it go?" Harry asked. Neville looked up from his book, smiling. He gave Harry a thumbs-up.