11. Occlumency with the Legilimens

"So, how are you going to get it?" Ron asked in the Common Room the next night.

"Well, I'm not sure that I have to destroy it, but somehow, I have to curse the Horcrux out of it. When Dumbledore destroyed Slytherin's ring, he didn't really destroy it. He just told me, 'The ring is no longer a Horcrux.' I wonder if there's some spell, or curse that would do the trick. What d'you think Hermione?" Harry asked, hoping that there was an easier way, than taking the Horcruxes to the Fortress.

"Hmm, I say we try Wilhelm," she replied.

"But Hermione, she can't know what we're up to," Harry said.

"Well that's a problem. This is going to be difficult. Why don't you just talk to her?"

"I s'pose so," Harry replied. He left Gryffindor tower by himself. He was walking down the corridor leading to Wilhelm's office, when he heard his name called.

"Potter, a word." Harry turned around. Right behind him, he was startled to see, was Professor Wilhelm.

"In my office please," she hissed. Harry sat down in front of her desk, and she sat behind it. Her eyes were boring into Harry's head. He felt like he was being x-rayed.

"I have been looking at the files left by one of your previous teachers. His name was Professor Snape, I believe? According to the files, you were taking Occlumency with him. For some reason, you stopped taking that class. I was thinking of teaching that to you again. Are you good at it? What went wrong?"

Harry was astonished that there would be such a file. It was supposed to be kept secret.

"I – I was taking remedial potions."

"I see we have much work to do." Harry felt a twinge of fear. She knew I just lied?

"Are you familiar with Legilimency?"

"Uh, yeah," Harry replied hesitantly.

"Well, how about after class on Tuesday. Seventh years are my last class that day. That is, as long as you are not opposed...?"

"Well, I guess it would be okay," Harry said. Professor Wilhelm leaned back.

"Very well. After class on Tuesday." Harry left the room, wondering what he had just agreed to. She's going to teach me Occlumency? How did she even know I took that with Snape? When he finally got back to the Common Room, Hermione looked eagerly towards him.

"So, did you ask her?" she asked very quickly. Harry had to think for a moment to realize what she meant.

"Oh, that. I forgot to ask her about Horcruxes. Get this, she wants to teach me Occlumency. My first lesson is Tuesday, after class." Hermione looked apprehensive.

"Harry, I've been doing some research. Wilhelm was the surname of a wicked sorceress not too long ago. You don't suppose that's her, do you?" Hermione said.

"Oh come on," said Ron, "it can't really be her. Though you have a good point," he added hurriedly.

Tuesday came faster than Harry thought possible. All the students were already tired from previous classes. They were hoping they wouldn't have to do anything strenuous for Offense Against the Dark Arts.

It was getting towards the end of March, but the weather was still very cold.

"Welcome seventh years," came Wilhelm's voice, from the dark shadows of the room. Everyone was accustomed, by now, to hear her voice from the darkest corner of the room, even when you thought she surely couldn't be lurking there.

"The time has come. Time to show you the darkest and most powerfully effective curses in all of existence." A shiver ran across the room. Harry knew what she was referring to. Avada kedavra; the killing curse.

"Today, you will be taught two new curses," Wilhelm continued. "The first one, I simply need to teach you the incantation. It requires nothing more than that. It is Sectumsempra."

Harry couldn't believe his ears. How on earth does she know that curse? Unless... No. Why would she know Snape? He invented it. How else would Wilhelm have learned it?

"It becomes an invisible sword, and slashes your victim across the face and chest." Hermione looked around worriedly.

"It is worth knowing," Wilhelm said.

"Next, we have Avada kedavra. It requires much magic behind it. You must have a strong desire to kill. You must pour into it all cruelty and malice. A thirst to thrive off the death of others. It is not something to be used carelessly. Naught but a blood thirsty, demented soul would use it carelessly. And I daresay, none of you are demented or blood thirsty... I hope." Everyone seemed terrified beyond their wits after this bone chilling speech.

They practiced a few simpler spells they had learned earlier that year. Class was soon over, and it was time for Harry's first Occlumency lesson with Wilhelm.

He purposely took longer to pack his bag, so that no one would ask him why he was staying. When Hermione got up, she brushed past him.

"Be careful," she whispered. When everyone had finally sidled out of the room, Wilhelm pointed her wand at the door, and it closed. Harry sat down in front of her desk.

"Well, I'm not sure what you know about Occlumency, so I will start from the beginning. It is done, in order to block your mind. It is a defense mechanism, against, perhaps a Legilimens, who is able to tell when someone is lying. It could prove quite useful, for someone such as yourself. Now, most people think aloud, in their head. I'm not sure if that makes sense, but I will try to explain as best as I can. I want you to close your eyes, and picture a bucket. It may sound silly, but just try."

Harry felt rather foolish closing his eyes in front of someone who might be a wicked sorceress, but he did as he was told. Wilhelm continued.

"Now that you have the mental image in your head, I want you to add things to it. Fill the bucket with water; add some soap suds; a sponge, or a rag. What you are doing, is picturing your thoughts, rather than thinking them. Your mind is blocked. A Legilimens can sometimes tell what you are thinking, even bring images to the surface of your mind, but they cannot tell what you are picturing. The image of the bucket should now be hidden away, buried in the deepest, most private part of your mind. A part so deep, that you yourself may have never before ventured."

Occlumency lessons continued for several weeks; always meeting on Tuesday nights.

It was now mid April, and Harry was getting much better at blocking his mind. Instead of having Wilhelm describe something for him to picture, he would picture something for her to guess.

She usually got it right, considering that she was an accomplished Legilimens, but recently, her guesses had been getting farther, and farther from the truth.

Harry was rather proud of himself for that. He was also rather proud of Wilhelm for being able to teach him all that stuff. After all, where would he be without her? Maybe she isn't all that bad. There's no way she's a wicked sorceress. Harry was still having trouble trying to figure out what to do about the locket and cup.

"Look Harry, you've got to get that cup soon," Ron said one evening, in the Common Room.

"I know, but how?" Harry asked, beginning to feel a little tense, and worried. Voldemort could decide any day, that it's time to kill me. What will I do if that happens?

"Why don't I summon it for you?" Hermione asked quietly. Harry contemplated this for a moment.

"What are we going to do after we get it?" Harry asked.

"I don't know," she replied. "Didn't you ask Dumbledore in the Fortress?"

"I did. I was hoping there would be a simpler way of doing it. He said the least harmful way would be to bring it to the Fortress.

For some reason, going there would take the Horcrux out of something. On the archway, when I was about to leave, I noticed that there was something inscribed on it. It said something like, 'None but the purest exit the realm of shadow.' I don't know what that's supposed to mean." Hermione looked dumbfounded.

"But – how – who's going to go to the Fortress?" she asked. The three of them looked at each other. Ron and Harry came to the same conclusion: Dobby.

"Dobby will do anything for Harry Potter sir," squeaked the slightly confused little elf, when they went down to the kitchen. Hermione was standing in the corner looking grumpy.

"Well Dobby, I need you to bring this locket to the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic," Harry explained.

"Dobby has been there sir, with old master," Dobby squeaked again. Harry explained exactly where Dobby was to go, and exactly what he was to do.

"First we need to summon the cup," Ron said, looking around at Hermione. "Would you like to do the honor?" Hermione didn't seem very happy that they would be risking a house elfs life, but agreed.

"At least we're near the Hufflepuff Common Room," she said, "Isn't it just around the corner?"

"I think so," Ron replied. "I saw Zacharias go up to the Great Hall for dinner about fifteen minutes ago." Hermione did the summoning spell nonverbally.

Harry stepped out of the kitchen, and the Hufflepuff cup nearly whacked him in the face. Hermione caught it, and handed it to him.

"Is there any way we'll be able to return it to him?"

"I'm not sure." They walked back into the kitchen to give the cup to Dobby.

"Here Dobby. All you need to do is toss these through the curtain Got it?" Harry asked. Dobby nodded, and with a faint pop, he was gone.

"Oh, I hope he's gonna be okay," Hermione said, twisting her hands.

"I bet we'll hear a racket when word spreads that someone stole Smith's cup. That won't be very pleasant," said Ron.