Disclaimer: Yeah, I'm an author from Britain who ROCKS at writing, that's why I only WISH I knew where Daniel Radcliffe lived… and incase you didn't catch the sarcasm; I don't own anything.
A/N: Well another chapter started, and thanks to kissmybootty (I'm writing as fast as I can I can get the ideas sorted in my mind, but I promise, I'll work faster) and others who reviewed. BTW, props, props, and MORE props to my best friend ever for donating a true event as an insignificant one in this story :-p! Love ya heaps!
Chapter 7:Occlumency
The first week flew without warning and already Friday was breathing down Jazz's skinny olive neck. Her mind was on overload with homework, and the fact that she was about to start a new class did nothing to take the stress away. Every class so far had assigned essays, as a welcome back to try and remind the students what they learned. Jazz of course had already finished most of the essays; except for the infamous potions one about poisons from Professor Snape, a tall pale man with greasy oil black hair and a very prominent nose that seemed just as greasy as his hair that seemed to loathe any student but those of his own House, Slytherin.
Every class seemed to drag by for Jazz; even History of Magic was slower than normal. The suspense built from waiting for Occlumency was towering over everything, and when Friday came, she couldn't believe how very excited she was to start it. Harry had (not to Jazz's surprise) had every class with her; no doubt Dumbledore's doing so he could keep a steady eye on her, she suspected. Nevertheless, Jazz and Harry spent a great deal of time together, helping each other with homework and discussing their pasts. Of course the topic of love lives came across them, but both of them ignored it. 'Well of course he would,' Jazz reasoned bitterly, 'he's actually had one.' On Friday, the day Jazz had been dreading and yet couldn't wait for it to arrive, they began discussing music in the Great Hall at lunch.
"Oh in the States I heard some positively wicked music. Most of it was by Muggles, but still. Have you ever heard of Blink 182 or Lit? (A/N: AWESOME BANDS) Oh, and then there was this band called 'The Used.' What about you?" Jazz said excitedly, except she didn't know exactly why she was so excited.
"Oh, well I like the Strokes, U2, (A/N: This may sound stalker-y, but D.R. really does like those bands) The Sex Pistols – they're old, like from the 80's – but yeah, they're Muggles as well, but they are awesome." Harry offered to let Jazz have a listen once they went to Hogsmeade, which reminded Jazz that she was going on her date with Dean. Of course, Dean had not been acting like he had asked her out. 'Maybe I made a mistake. Or maybe this is how boys act after they ask you out.' At the time Jazz was thinking this, Dean and Seamus walked in with Ron and Neville in tow and sank onto the benches with Harry and Jazz. "Hullo, boys," Harry nodded off to each of them.
"Hey Harry, hey Jazz," everyone but Dean replied. He completely ignored Harry and sat next to Jazz, placing an arm around her shoulders, as if she had asked him to. "Hello, love," he chimed smugly.
Confusedly and stupidly, Jazz took turns staring at his arm, his all to sure of his-self face, and then his arm again. "Excuse me? Do you need some assistance to the hospital wing?" Dean, looking amused, answered no, "Then take your arm off of me before you do," Jazz warned. He stopped looking amused as the gang let out barks of laughter.
However, instead of crumbling, Dean regained a positive composer and said loudly, almost to make sure they all knew, "So we still on for Hogsmeade next weekend?" Jazz blushed slightly when her silver eyes caught Harry's amazing green ones, covered in a emotion that wasn't – for once – worry, but an emotion Jazz couldn't place her finger on that she had the odd sensation was jealousy. 'Yeah, that'll be the day,' Jazz snorted in her mind. Let's face it, Jazz would have loved it if Harry was jealous, but she couldn't wrap her mind around that happening (A/N: slow, isn't she?) Harry's mouth was the only one that made a sagging motion, but it didn't open. Seamus, Ron, and Neville seemed indifferent to the fact that their friend had announced he had a date. They made no comment but they did look up slightly to see Jazz's reaction.
Before Jazz could give an answer, Dean checked his watch and said, "Well, gotta go. Class awaits." After he retreated from the table, standing, he leant down and stroked Jazz's cheek seductively and said, "See you, Love." Jazz watched as his shrinking back turned the corner on the way to Hagrid's hut.
The other boys were still eating, obviously hungry from their first class, though they all had had the same class, Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts with their new professor, Professor Burns. Her class had been fun, for they hadn't done any real work. She simply called the role, introduced herself, and asked them to make lists of what they had learned, what they wanted to learn, and questions about anything to do with the Dark Arts. Harry, however, sat slack-jawed, still gazing openly at Jazz.
"Harry? You alive in there?" She asked, waving a hand in front of his face. "What's wrong, Harry?" She inquired, worry now settling inside her eyes for once. "Harry!"
"When did you start going out with that git – I mean – er – Dean?" He asked, a slight edge in his voice in which she had never heard before. She laughed in spite of Harry's edge and shrugged.
"I don't go out with him. He asked me to go to Hogsmeade with him next Saturday though, and I accepted. I'll probably regret that when we get up to next week though, yeah?" She laughed again, and noticed the tension was still there. She set down her cutlery that she was about to use and said, "What? What's wrong? You can tell me."
Harry sputtered to reply, and averted his gaze away from Jazz, moving his arm and sending a fork flying. It landed near a second year whose teeth shown with braces, making Jazz remember Jackie's grandparents were dentists. The second year was either a half blood, or he was a Muggle- born, she reasoned. She told the child sorry, making him blush furiously, and returned her attention to Harry. "Nothing," he kept saying, "Just nothing."
Unwillingly, Jazz abandoned the subject, ate her small lunch, and waited for Harry so they could go to Occlumency together. In five minutes they were in one of the East dungeons, near where Potions was taught. Jazz had a bottomless pit feeling that she wasn't going to like Occlumency, but she did what she was told, regardless whether she agreed or not. The dungeon they were in had something like a thick padding along the walls that only made Jazz assume the worst of it. "Harry? Are you sure this is the right dungeon?"
Harry said nothing, but gave an unsure nod. They looked at each other nervously and sank into two separate desks next to one another. Jazz decided to seal off the silence and said in a would-be calm voice, "So who do you think will teach us Occlumency?"
Harry shifted his gaze from nowhere over to Jazz's curious face, and answered unconcernedly, "Probably Professor Burns, wouldn't you think? I mean; we don't have very many teachers left here anyways."
"I don't think she will." Jazz argued distractedly. "She's got another class after lunch, I think." She reached for Harry's wrist and pulled it toward her and glanced at his small bronze wristwatch. 1:40. 'What's taking our teacher so long?'
Suddenly the dungeon door flew forward and slammed furiously into the padded walls with a soft but echoing thud. Jazz was so surprised by the swift entry that before she knew what she was doing, she grabbed onto Harry's hand and gripped tightly. Harry glanced at his hand having its circulation cut off my Jazz's hand and back to her face. Jazz, noticing what she did finally, yanked her hand away with a quick, "sorry!" and looked back at the door.
In walked a sight so shocking Jazz's jaw dropped. 'Why does it do that so often while I'm here?' she wondered. Walking on a crutch that looked more like a wooden beating stick she'd seen a nun use once (A/N: those things hurt!) was no one other than Professor R.J. Lupin.
"Professor…Professor Lupin? You're b-back?" Jazz stammered. She'd raised her body off of the chair, and stood in complete awe. 'He's going to be our Occlumency teacher? But he's so…'
"Yes, I am. Fine to see you well. Hello, Jazz. Hello, Harry." Professor Lupin looked over at Harry and gave what seemed like what most men did, a curt nod. Harry returned it with a grin on his thin but still very tempting lips. "Well, no sense in waiting with baited breath, let's begin, shall we?" Professor Lupin looked even more ill than he had in Jazz's third year, the second time she'd ever met a werewolf. 'Thank God he wasn't like that or I'd have owled Mom ages ago.'
"How are you, Professor?" Harry asked, with a, as usual, worried glance in Jazz's direction. 'Would you knock that off, already,' she wanted to scream at him, 'I know how to take care of myself, alright?'
"Fine, thank you, Harry. Please, would you help me with this? I must have thought I was stronger when I packed." He let out what would have been a laugh, but it turned into a rather violent cough instead, making him take a seat in one of the closer desks. Harry raced over to his side, took the bag, which surprisingly was heavier than either of them thought because Harry began to lean sideways after lifting it, and carried it over to the desk at the front of the dungeon/classroom.
Clearing his throat, Professor Lupin said with a tired sigh, "Now, I say we should get down to business, don't you agree?" Neither Jazz nor Harry said a word, and Professor Lupin continued. "Occlumency is a very complicated subject to learn. It takes great willpower, and determination, which is why Dumbledore, I'm sure, was so convinced you two will be done so soon. Now, you may be wondering what exactly Occlumency is. It is a magical defense against external penetration, in other words, it keeps nosy bungers out of your mind." Harry and Jazz made nearly identical skeptic expressions, causing Professor Lupin to add in his wheezy voice, "An obscure branch of magic, true, but highly useful.
"Dumbledore asked me to teach you both considering that Voldemort has long been skilled at Legilimency – er, the ability to extract people's memories and feelings from their minds, that is – and is able to tell the second someone is being untruthful. My job is to teach you to shut off the areas of your brain with emotions and memories. It makes it much harder for Him to tell if you are lying or not when you've mastered Occlumency, thus giving you a slightly higher hand than him."
Jazz was caught on something, however. "Sir, why, if our school is so protected by charms and enchantments, and if I'm not mistaken, time and space matter in magic, is it so important to learn Occlumency? Do you think that Voldemort has ways of getting to us even inside of Hogwarts with the eyes of Dumbledore over us?" 'Watching like a miserable old bat with Harry helping,' Jazz wanted to add, but struck the thought out of her mind immediately.
Harry looked at Jazz in surprise, not knowing whether to be shocked or ashamed of her outburst, no matter how much respect she still shown. But still, he couldn't help thinking that maybe, just maybe, Jazz was right.
"Well," came Professor Lupin's wheezy reply, "There seems to be a connection between Harry and Voldemort, which I'm sure you know all about, Miss Granger." Jazz opened her mouth to point out the obvious - this had to do with Harry then, so why was she doing it? – But Professor Lupin cut her off before saying a word and said, "While you are able to travel through time, and have premonitions and see what has happened before."
"But, it's useful!" Jazz cried before she could stop herself. She noticed she had launched to her feet, watching Professor Lupin stare at her intently. "I'll be able to help The Order of the Phoenix – my Mom explained about it when I was younger, asking about him and stuff – find whatever mistakes they made in the past, right them, and then come back."
"Exactly." Professor Lupin paused for a second, seeming to wait for his answer to sink in. "With your power," Professor Lupin returned with a calm, exasperated voice, "Voldemort could use it to see exactly what people did in the future to avoid his wrath, to trap him, to trick him, therefore giving him time to plan ways to make sure they do not get out of his grasp. Or, he could go back in time when he hadn't killed Harry and done it with himself the first time 'round. Giving us, no Harry at all. Thus, you are much safer learning Occlumency with Harry than just him himself." Harry was watching both of them with eager eyes, wondering if they were about to fight. Jazz, however, disappointed him, and sat down without another word, waiting for Professor Lupin to finish.
"Right, now. Any more questions?" Again, both Harry and Jazz were silent. "Well, then. I suppose we should snap to it then, don't you agree? Yes, Harry, please stand over there," he pointed over to the side of the dungeon where all the desks were pushed aside, leaving a large space, "and have your wand at the ready. I'm going to try to break into your mind, and when I say the spell, I want you to try and defend yourself in any way, just as long as I don't get killed. Are we clear?"
Harry nodded, his long black hair falling involuntarily into his view, and, brushing the strands away absently, strode over to the spot Professor Lupin indicated, his maple wand held tightly in his small fist.
"Jazz, you can stand here," Professor Lupin pointed to a spot near him a fair few feet away from Harry, "and see what exactly what happens, that good with you? Harry, you ready? All right, on the count of three. One," the two raised their wands, "two," they got into stance, "three. Legilimens!" Jazz watched in silent horror as Harry twitched his head from side to side, eyes shut tightly, as if that would keep Professor Lupin out. Jazz didn't say anything for a few seconds until Harry cried out in pain, shouting out words she didn't understand, and slamming his knees into the marble floor.
"STOP!" she shrieked, running towards Harry and thrusting her self onto her knees as he was. "Are you okay? Is he okay?" she kept asking in a worried voice.
Harry kept silent, not knowing exactly what to say. Finally, he said, "I'm fine, Jazz. Really I am. Just, uh, a little light headed is all." Harry carefully straightened his body, rubbing his sore knees.
"Are you sure?" she asked, not convinced a bit. She knew that act only too well. "Professor, will he be alright?"
"Jazz, he said he is fine. If I am not mistaken, that usually means someone is okay. It's your turn, if you are willing to go." Professor added the last bit as a kind of "sorry" warning. Jazz, though still frazzled by Harry's antics, went against her better judgment and said yes. She helped Harry raise himself and he stalked away from the spot he had just vacated leaving Jazz to stand numbly with her wand held in her hand tightly. 'This was stupid. I won't do what Harry did. I won't.'
Professor Lupin brushed away a strip of shaggy blonde brown hair and said, "Ready? Okay, on the count of three. One, two, three: Legilimens!" Before Jazz knew what was coming, she felt her eyes shut tightly, as if this would block Professor Lupin's view, but it still hit her full frontal without any warning. She knew now why Harry had been yelling; right there, in front of her, were memories she didn't even know she had, flashing right in front of her, as if she was living them all over again. Jazz could hear her melodic voice crying out words, but she didn't know what they were. 'Stop it, these are mine…mind your own business…I said STOP!' Finally, Jazz lifted her eyelids, swinging her silver eyes everywhere. Professor Lupin stood a few feet away, with a small smile in place, while Harry stood next to him, watching in a mixture of fear and awe.
"Well done, Jazz. You attempted to fight me off, and nearly got away with it. Both of you did well for a first lesson. Well, we'll rest, and then shall we try again?" Professor Lupin limped with his cane away over to his desk, where he whipped out a quill and parchment, scribbling something down.
"So, are you okay?" Jazz asked once again, giving an angelic smile to Harry.
His green eyes lit with a beauty Jazz wasn't used to seeing. "I'm fine." He said in exasperation. "Trust me. I've broken more bones than most people have in a lifetime." He chuckled slightly, finishing, "I've even lost the bones in my arm! I'm fine."
"Well, I'm glad. You frightened me with your yelling. So don't do that next time," Jazz joked with a playful punch. Harry pretended it hurt, and accidentally fell backwards, catching Professor Lupin's attention. Jazz laughed loudly and then stopped when Professor Lupin gave a look of disapproval to her.
Professor Lupin attempted to clear his throat, but it only resulted in another coughing session. When he finished he went, "Alright, Harry, you again."
Professor Lupin worked with Harry for the majority of the class. Towards the end, he finally said, "Alright, Jazz. Your turn." She sighed and stood again in the middle of the empty floor. 'I wonder what Gin's doing today…' All of a sudden, Jazz felt the spell hit her, and the memories began to fly in front of her.
Then something strange happened. Jazz's legs gave away from underneath her weight, and she fell with a loud crash to the cold unwelcoming marble floor. Jazz could hear the far away voices of Professor Lupin and Harry, both leaning over her lifeless body. "Jazz," Harry said in a shrill voice, "Jazz! Wake up! Come back!"
"No," Jazz felt Harry's hands as they were about to grip and shake her, and heard Professor Lupin wrap his own around Harry's wrists. "She's having a premonition. We can't get through to her until she comes back. We have to wait."
XXX
ZING! That's the end of Chapter 7! I'm running out of words to start off this annoying little annual author's note at the end of every chapter, so when you review (you will right? PLZ?) Would you mind leaving an idea for a word to start it off like voila or something like that? (My "so-called" best friend j/k of course says this will make u think I am a freak, but I am so no big deal, right) Love ya heaps – Sylverwings
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