To the reviewers:

LiL.CaT.AnImE: I'm glad your enjoying it so far.

Phyre's child13: There are a lot of Snape slash fic aren't there, I'm glad you like this one though.

grugster: I hope this update was quick enough for you, the next one might take a bit longer though since it looks like I'm going to be busy.

sweet as lemonz: I'm trying to make Adrian the kind of teacher we'd all like to have by basing her teaching style off of some of my favourite teachers so I'm glad you think it worked out alright.

Chapter 7: Dumbledore's Lessons

Two weeks into the school year I was summoned to Grandpa's office to observe his first secret lesson with Harry. I arrived just after eight o'clock and Harry was already there.

"Adrian, glad you could make it," Grandpa said with a smile. "Harry I don't believe you've been properly introduced to my Granddaughter, Adrian."

I couldn't help but chuckle as Harry burst out;

"She's your granddaughter?"

"A fact that is to remain strictly confidential," Grandpa said gently as Harry looked back and fourth between us.

"If you're looking for a family resemblance I've been told it only in the eyes," I said dryly.

Grandpa chuckled, "But to get down to business, Harry, I believe it is time to see if we can't teach you Occlumency. Now Occlumency, like all other magic that relies on mind power alone, takes a great deal of work to master. It is easiest to learn while you are calm and have a clear mind, thus we will start with meditation."

Harry looked surprised and I had a feeling that Severus had not started with meditation. Actually the thought of Severus meditating was rather laughable.

Grandpa cleared his throat and gestured for me to sit down on the floor with him and Harry.

I groaned but obeyed. Meditation is not only something I never quite got the hang of but something I loath. While Grandpa may be perfectly content to sit still for hours staring at a wall I think best on the move.

"Adrian," Grandpa's voice breaks the silence after a few minutes. "Stop tapping."

I stilled the fingers on my left hand which I hadn't realised I was drumming on my knee and tried to remain still.

Finally Harry's voice broke the silence, "Umm Professor, what exactly are we supposed to be doing?"

I opened my eyes and stretched while Grandpa replied, "The idea of meditation is that you reach a centre of calm. Once you are at that centre of calm it is easiest to focus because there are no other distractions."

"Some people like using an analogy of flowing along a river or floating on the wind or something similar to help calm them," I interrupted. "But that doesn't necessarily work for everybody."

Grandpa sighed and I smirked, "You were about to use the water thing, weren't you?"

"I find it meets with the most success."

"So what works for you?" Harry asked me.

"Umm, well I find I'm calmest when I'm moving so I tend to do things like run, which is also not for everyone. But when I was learning Occlumency I found the biggest thing was focus. Ideally you're creating a barrier of sorts between your enemy and your memories, so I envision a wall of fire."

"Fire," Grandpa interrupted, "Is not one of the preferred elementals since it is normally attached to the Dark Arts."

"So's Legidimency," I replied bluntly. "Things that people fear are always attached to the Dark Arts."

"So," Said Harry looking between the two of us. "All I have to do is figure out a way to create a barrier in my mind using something that I feel calms me or protects me?"

"Pretty much," I replied.

- - - - -

"Why'd Professor Dumbledore have Snape teach me last year if he's so much better at it?" Harry asked during his next potions lesson.

"Because Severus is better at Occlumency."

Harry scowled. "He didn't seem to be…"

"Being good at something and being able to teach it are two entirely different things, Harry. Severus has always been an excellent occlumense, even long before he knew anything about Occlumency. He simply has the predisposition for magic involving mind powers on top of the fact that he is an extraordinarily brilliant wizard."

Harry gave me a doubtful look. "I've never seen any proof that he's a brilliant wizard."

"Tell me, how would you brew the Draught of Peace?"

Harry looked startled at the seeming change of subject before reciting the process. While he was doing that I got the fifth year potions book that contained the brewing instructions and opened it to the page on the Draught of Peace. Once Harry was done reciting the instructions I handed him the book.

"But…the instructions are different."

I smiled. "Exactly. The method you just recited is the one Severus made when he modified this one. That is why he always writes his instructions on the board instead of having you buy textbooks. His methods are actually much easier and more efficient then the ones in the texts." Harry was staring at me open mouthed in surprise so I decided to add something else. "He also invents spells, or did anyway."

As I was placing the text back on the shelf Harry said, "You sound like you really like Snape."

I was silent for a moment before replying. "I respect him for his abilities, the same way I respect Voldemort for his abilities, but that does not mean I have to like him."

A/N: I took some liberations with occlumency since JKR never explained how it should be taught and meditation to gain control over your emotions made sense to me.