Potion classroom. Day. Hermione wrote a note in her book. Students faster out of Snape class. Harry touched her shoulder. "Hermione, let's go". She looked up from her note.

"Urmm, you go first, Harry. I have something to write on my note. Wouldn't be longer I promise. I'll see you at the Great Hall". She smiled.

Harry nodded, whispering in her ears. "Better hurry. This is Snape's classroom, not Professor McGonagall".

"I know. I see you there".

She watched Harry and Ron leave the class. She looked back to her note, her finger fastly writing the note before she forgot everything she remembered in her head.

She didn't bother what Snape was doing around.

As she finishes. She smiles, gathering all her books in arm. She's up from chair then walked to the door. Snape stops her by waving his wand at the door and locked from the inside. She breathes in turn to Snape.

"Let me out, Professor!"

"I will if you listen to me first". She waited, Snape spoke. "Umbridge questioning and involve into my personal life". He walked forward. "Umbridge suspect a relationship between you and me".

Hermione stood blink. "And what does Pinky Toad say?"

"Like I'd say. Umbridge suspect".

"Well, she can't be a suspect because we don't have any special relationship. You're my professor.. Professor Snape. I'm your student. If Umbridge is so clever to judge people, she knows there's just a rumor. So, I guess she is not clever enough".

Snape bowed his head, he felt amused and studied the floor. Then he looked up. "I'm not suggesting, Miss Granger. Perhaps while Umbridge is around, we should not see each other much. Like you say ''rumor".

"Well that's good. Brilliant". Her eye on Snape. So he did to her. "Because I never expected to bump into you from the beginning. I'd never like that. I am on my own".

Silent as she sighs. "Anything you want to add, Professor?"

He nodded. "If you and your friends want to do something stupid make sure Umbridge won't find out what you doing or else... consequences that I wouldn't forgive myself for hurting you".

"I'm good. Thank you for the advice. Could you please unlock the door so I can be with my friends and away from the rumor with you".

Snape waved his wand again, the door unlocked. Without thank you, Hermione bolted out the room straight to the Great Hall. His chest is feeling pain so it's his heart. He wanted Hermione to accept him but - she didn't. Greasy old git like him will never ever be in love.

Not even Lily's and not even Hermione returning his feelings. He wanted to cry over his mother's shoulder, he would floo straight to Spinner's End but Umbridge blocked all the fireplaces so that no one could floo back or in under her watch.

Bloody Toad! Snape muttered.

Gryffindor's common room. Night. The trio sits in front of the fireplaces. Neville found the Room of Requirement. The Room of Requirement only appears when a person has a real need for it.

They began their practice there, gaining more and more learning about magic taught by Harry Potter.

Before Christmas arrived. After everyone left the Room of Requirement. Harry and Cho kiss. Later Harry walked back to Gryffindor common room, told Hermione and Ron about the kiss.

Hermione and Ron staring. "Well, how was it?"

Harry bite his lips. "Wet. I mean, she was sort of crying".

"That's bad at it, are you?"

"I'm sure Harry's kissing was more than satisfactory". said Hermione, Harry nodded in agreement. "Cho spends half her time crying these days".

Ron frowned. "You'd think a bit of snogging would cheer her up".

"Don't you understand how she must be feeling? Well, obviously she's feeling sad about Cedric... and confused about liking Harry and guilty about kissing him... conflicted because Umbridge might sack her mum from the Ministry... and frightened of failing her OWLs because she's worrying about everything else".

Ron stares at her. "One person couldn't feel all that. They'd explode".

"Just because you've got the emotional range of a teaspoon..."

Everything went silent for a while. Harry and Ron look up at Hermione but then they laugh. "Well, kissing each other wasn't that bad wasn't it?"

"You kiss, Snape. How do you feel?"

Hermione jerked her eye on Ron, said. "I didn't, RONALD! According to myself and Snape we don't kiss. Everyone thought and Umbridge suspected us.. this is outrageous and completely mental. And besides... who wants to snog Snape anyway?"

... "You"...

"Honestly, Ronald Weasley. For your information I don't. I don't care what people think of me". Her eye on Harry. "Did you, Harry?"

"Honestly I don't, Hermione. I never saw it unless I saw it right in front of my eye". He looked up at Ron. "Hermione right, Ron. We cannot say anything unless we see. This was just a rumor, it wasn't real. Now, we need to focus on something we archive".

Hermione nodded. "You're right, Harry. Ron is just being an idiot".

"That's not true!"

Hogwarts corridor. Night. Snape's cloak flowing behind him, rushed toward the corridor. He was about to sleep at that time.

Snape got informed from Dumbledore that Harry's bad dream involved Mr. Weasley safety, terribly injured at the Ministry of Magic while guarding the Hall of Prophecy for the Order of the Phoenix.

Arthur was attacked by Voldemort's snake, Nagini. The attack was witnessed by Harry, through his mental connection with the Dark Lord. Critically injured, Arthur was taken to 's.

Because of Harry witnessing the event and alerting Dumbledore to it Arthur survived the attack and hence he was transported to St Mungo's in time.

Snape bursting inside Dumbledore's office. "You wished to see me, headmaster?"

"Oh, Severus. I'm afraid we can't wait. Not even till the morning. Otherwise, we'll all be vulnerable".

Snape's black eyes studied every one face. "I should start now, Headmaster".

"Yes. Go now, Severus".

He then drags Harry's arm out from Dumbledore's office. They two make their way downstairs to the Dungeons. Snape's office.

He pushes Harry toward the chair, and makes him sit. Snape walks to his desk. He gives Harry's Occlumency lesson.

"It appears there's a connection... between the Dark Lord's mind and your own. Whether he is, as yet, aware of this connection is, for the moment, unclear. Pray he remains ignorant".

As Snape found something for his use to Harry. Harry spoke. "You mean, if he knows about it, then... he'll be able to read my mind?"

"Read it, control it... unhinge it". Snape turns to Harry. "In the past, it was often the Dark Lord's pleasure... to invade the minds of his victims... creating visions designed to torture them into madness. Only after extracting the last exquisite ounce of agony... only when he had them literally begging for death, would he finally... kill them".

Snape walked forward. "Used properly, the power of Occlumency... will help shield you from access or influence. In these lessons, I will attempt to penetrate your mind. You will attempt to resist. Prepare yourself".

He pauses his wand at Harry.

"Legilimens!" Harry's head yanked back. Grunt in pain. Pain as Snape invaded his mind and saw Harry's memory.

A memory that everyone Harry's know includes Hermione. "Concentrate, Potter. Focus!"