OLD MAGIC

Chapter 4: Exciting Events of the Summer

"You mean you can teach me how to keep Voldemort out of my mind, sir?" Harry asked, eagerly.

Snape winced involuntarily at hearing the Dark Lord's name spoken so innocently and boldly.

Harry noticed the reaction and tilted his head, studying his teacher intently. "Why do you react so? It's only his name...being afraid of it seems silly and besides gives the owner far too much of a big head and power he doesn't rightfully own," the boy observed.

The man in black was totally blown away. He didn't know what he'd expected of James' son but this bold and intelligent child with the guileless eyes, certainly wasn't it. With his first words, Snape knew Harry was nothing like his father except in looks...the eyes though...those were Lily's and it nearly stopped his heart to see them.

Shaking off his surprise, he nodded his head. "You are correct, failing to give Voldemort his true name, which actually is Tom Riddle, gives him far too much power over us. I stand corrected. Now, shall we begin our lessons? Why don't we make ourselves comfortable...sit here before me." Snape pointed at the blanket that had been laid at the foot of a huge rock, folding himself gracefully into a cross-legged seated position.

Harry jumped down from the rock he'd been standing waiting on and took a similar position in front of Snape, his face eager and attentive.

"I understand he's been invading your mind while you sleep?" Snape asked, getting their lessons started. He could already see the boy wasn't going to waste his time which he appreciated. Though, how much the boy was still going to be so eager once they got going with this, they would have to wait and see.

The boy grimaced and nodded. "Yes sir, he has. Some of it is truly horrible. What a nasty man he is or was..." he frowned in confusion and gave Snape a questioning look. "How can he be bothering me so when he's supposed to have died?"

"Do you actually see him in your mind?"

"Uh...no...when my parents were killed I seemed to recall a handsome face twisted with evil but after that, it was just a nebulous feeling of evil and the results of his attacks on the innocent through the eyes of other hard eyed men," Harry explained as best he could.

"The Dark...Voldemort's body is dead but his spirit is still bound to the this world by magic most foul."

Harry nodded gravely. "Of that I did hear from the elders, sir, and that he uses others to continue his evil work toward taking over the wizarding world."

Snape eyed the boy with new eyes. It was obvious the training Hagrid and the forest dwellers had provided Harry was as complete as they could manage. Snape had been doubtful but now he was forced to reset his thinking. Perhaps he should speak to Hagrid and find out just what the boy had been taught so he wouldn't repeat it when Harry went to Hogwarts.

"Because his spirit is still around and he is metaphysically attached to you by the aborted killing curse, we, meaning the elders and I, believe he is accidentally spilling his thoughts into your mind. We don't' think he is even aware of it because he is preoccupied with finding a way to regain a body."

Harry grimaced in disgust. "Ohhh that's just nasty. Someone would have to die for that to happen or be possessed," he said matter-of-factly.

"They would indeed. That is why we're all trying to find him so his spirit can be destroyed."

"Good, so what do I need to know, sir?"

Snape gave him a small smile. It was refreshing to teach someone this young who was willing to learn. "Very well. First is Legilimency, the ability to extract emotions and memories from another person's mind. Although the word literally translates as 'mind-reading', this is considered a naive interpretation of the art by its practitioners. The second thing you must learn is Occlumency, which is the art of magically defending the mind against external penetration, sealing it against magical intrusion and influence - the defensive counter to Legilimency. Do you understand these terms I've given you so far?"

Harry didn't answer immediately, his face scrunched up in concentration, then he nodded. "Yes sir."

"Good, then let's begin with Legilimency. This works best when the spell-caster is physically near the target, and when the target is off-guard, relaxed, or otherwise vulnerable. Eye contact is often essential, so it is useful for a Legilimens to verbally manipulate his or her target into meeting the Legilimens' eyes, with the fringe benefit that the target's emotional state may bring relevant associated memories to the surface. Understanding how it works and how to use it will help you be able to prevent it being used against you," Snape explained ponderously.

"Now what I want you to do is stay relaxed and look into my eyes..." In that first look into the mind of Harry Potter, Snape was taken aback by how well organized it was, and how calm and serene...something he'd not encountered even in an adult mind and it seemed the boy already possessed a rudimentary form of shielding.

A flash of an image showed him the face of the centaur leader staring back at him. He blinked and blocked his own mind quickly. 'Okay, he's being protected by the forest dwellers but they are not skilled at mind protection so now I understand better why I was asked to teach the boy.' He sighed to himself and prepared to do his utmost to give Harry the best shield he could. He already knew the boy would succeed, this mind was sharp and strong, it just needed guidance.

As Snape had guessed it had taken Harry only a week to grasp the principles and a couple of months to hone his mind into an impenetrable fortress that even he couldn't enter.

During their times together, Snape had developed warm feelings for the boy both for his quickness of mind and his moral standards. He did think Harry had a bit of the 'save the world' attitude but he wasn't insufferable about it. Besides, it was typical of someone this young who thought they could make such huge changes in the world. He didn't put the boy down for such thinking. As he got to know Harry better, he began to think if anyone could succeed in making their world a better place, Harry would be the one.

By the time his birthday came along, Harry and Snape were comfortable with each other, if not really friends.

On the last day they had a session together, Snape warned him, "Harry, as you are aware, I must behave as if I hadn't met you and I'm rather abrasive with all my students. So it might seem I'm picking on you or being overly harsh, understand, this is not how I truly feel..."

Harry held up his hand to halt his mentor's speech. "As you said, sir, I am aware of your precarious position between the Light and Dark. I will play my part in pretending I'm upset by your treatment of me. I will protect your mission with my life," he said solemnly. "However, if ever you need someone, you have only to speak to me here," he said, pointing to his head.

Snape blinked in surprise. "But you shield so well, how will you know who's knocking?"

Harry smiled. "That's easy. I recognize your mind's touch. Trust me, I'll know it's you."

A smile was tugged at Snape's lips as he nodded and felt a warmth spread through him. Though the boy was so very young, his mind was filled with so much knowledge he far surpassed his peers. More importantly, his life experiences aged him courtesy of the forest dwellers and his time spent among the muggles. He'd learned Harry had been deliberately exposed to how cruel and senseless humans could be so wasn't shocked by death.

So despite his physical age, Harry was far older in mind and for that reason, Snape felt relief that he was no longer alone in his position as a spy. With Harry able to hear him, he now had someone to relay important information to, send for help if he was in trouble, and to simply be there when all seemed darkest and he needed a ray of hope to keep going.

It was a precious gift. "Thank you, Harry. I truly appreciate the offer. It could well mean the difference between life and death for me," he murmured, humbly.

Harry's face softened as he reached out to gently touch his mentor's cheek. "I know, which is why I offered. I want you safe when all this is over. I know its hard to entrust such important as well as horrific news to someone my age, but I hope you've learned enough about me to trust I can handle this. I will be there for you."

Snape touched the boy's hand gently and smiled back. He would carry this memory of perfect understanding with him to the battle against evil but prayed with all his heart, Harry would survive its terror intact. He would hate to lose this warm, bright soul to the dark.

To break the overly emotional moment, he cleared his throat and said, "we'd better finish up before your guardians come looking for you."

Harry grinned and sat back. "Won't happen...they want me kept out of the way as they prepare a big party for me. You are coming aren't you...it just wouldn't be right if you weren't there."

Snape smiled. "Of course, I wouldn't miss it."

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Harry's birthday was the end of July and was always a festive occasion for the forest dwellers but his eleventh birthday was something special as he'd received his letter to attend Hogwarts. Because of this, his party was to be the biggest he'd ever had and the most important.

His adoptive family, mentors and teachers were presenting him with gifts geared toward aiding him in the coming struggle.

That special day arrived bright and sunny with the party being set up on a huge table placed in the deepest part of the woods. A beautiful cake sat at one end with a pile of colorfully wrapped packages, and everyone he knew stood or sat around the table and watched him open his presents.

From the centaurs, he was presented with a bow and quiver full of hand made arrows, the Fae gave him an ancient fairy sword with sheath small enough for him...a larger one was also made for him but would be kept at his home for now; Hagrid gave him a strong knife with protective runes built into it; Agatha gave him a protective charm to wear around his neck and books on Herbology, First Aid and basic potions; Darian gave him a pair of small guns with Harry's initial's carved in the handles as well as a hidden holster and bullets; the rest of his friends offered special treats from the forest: nuts, homemade bread, berries, special stones, and other small items of protective magic like a wooden coin made from a sacred tree and a moonstone ring.

Snape gave him a very special book. It was old and well used with notes in the margins. "This was mine once. I want you to have it but it's not to be used until your sixth year."

Harry took the old book from him and studied the title, 'Advanced Potion Making'. He smiled and hugged it to his chest. "Thank you, Professor. I will keep it hidden in my trunk until needed."

It had been the best party of all and Harry thought the gifts were over the top, thanking everyone for their thoughtfulness. The cake was fantastic and vanished quickly down many appreciative throats. While many of the party goers left after the gifts had been received, others hung around and played games with the boy as well as encouraged him to try out some of his new gifts.

He went to sleep that night pleasantly stuffed and excited about the upcoming trip the next month to Diagon Alley to get his school supplies. He would be sad leaving everyone in September, but knew many of them would be on the edge of the forest watching over him as well as his adoptive father being right there in the thick of things at the school so he would never truly be cut off from them.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

When the middle of August rolled around, Hagrid took a disguised Harry to Diagon Alley. No one thought much of the blond haired, blue eyed boy of medium stature as he went from shop to shop picking up what he needed. At the pet shop, a snowy white owl made it very plain she was his by flying from her perch to his shoulder and nipping lightly on his ear.

"Well hello to you too. So you want to be with me, eh? I think that's grand and thank you," Harry said politely to her then named her Hedwig.

In the wand makers shop, his disguise did not hide his true self from the unusual eyes of Ollivander. Harry suspected the man was not fully human but Hagrid never enlightened him.

"Aahh...Mr. Potter," he said softly, insuring his shop was unoccupied except for them before addressing Harry. "I've been expecting you."

Harry was stunned but Hagrid just nodded knowingly to the wand maker. It took several tries before Harry managed to find the right wand.

"With your many other abilities, a wand is really only to help you focus during spell casting rather than as a defense. Do not rely on it as much as your fellow wizards do as your life will be far more perilous and require more unseen methods of defense than a wand can provide," Ollivander advised. "Good luck to you Harry Potter."

"Thank you, sir."

They left and finished up at Gringotts. The Goblins also knew who they were dealing with and were appropriately discreet and respectful of the young man. From his vault, Harry only retrieved enough money for the coming months and nothing more. He'd already been here a year ago and withdrew enough for his school supplies in the muggle world and for his wizarding ones later. Of that money, he still had an appreciable amount of it left over.

Now properly equipped, he returned with Hagrid and waited for the day school would begin. He could hardly wait.