Naturally charming
Harry had another dream despite his efforts to close his mind. He reluctantly told Hermione and Ron about his dream.
"So Bode was killed," said Hermione self-righteously. "I knew devil snare doesn't end up in a hospital randomly."
"Of course you would know." murmured Ron. "Sorry, I didn't mean that… you know... I need some time to get used to this." he apologised for his unnecessary and suggestive comment.
"I really don't mind as long as you don't call me …"
Hermione's sentence was cut by Ravenclaw. "Lestrange, I couldn't borrow your Advanced Arithmancy table, couldI?" Hermione took a book out of her bag and gave it to here. "Of course, you can. Here you are." she said with a fake smile.
"That." she said to Ronald as the Ravenclaw left.
"O...kay." Ron accepted grudgingly.
They had a very fragile truce going on. That was for Harry's sake so he wouldn't have to repeat everything twice. Ron avoided her when he could, but at times he had to tolerate her. Hermione had accepted this hoping that he would come back to his senses.
"Rookwood seemed nervous. He told him that neither Bode nor poor Sturgis could have picked it up. "
"What?" Ron asked.
"Oh come on, Ron …all right… Weasley." she corrected herself at his glare. "Obviously it is the very weapon he's been looking for all summer."
"Oh?" Ron said rather unintelligently.
"We know it's in the Department of Mysteries. We don't know what it is. Rookwood however seems to be pretty familiar with it, which begs the question, what is it that they're keeping down there?" said Harry.
"You know it also begs another question. WHY aren't you practicing Occlumency?" asked Hermione in frustration.
"Oh, about that. The sessions with Snape are barely helping. It's true that I don't see Voldish dreams very much these days, but it's really difficult to actually block these visions. Snape says I need a lot more practice."
"You're actually practicing? Seriously?" Ron asked. "And could you a bit more … respectful." He added fearfully.
"Voldish describes the dream really well, actually," said Hermione, "We're not Death Eaters, we don't need to respect him."
They kept quiet as three Hufflepuffs passed them.
"Look, all I say is that we should keep our mind open. Not to Voldemort, of course, but to this in general." Harry added as Hermione started to protest.
When Harry met Snape a few days later, he wasn't happy about the news either.
"I thought we were supposed to end these dreams Potter." he said, scowling at Harry.
"I'm aware of that, sir." Harry responded respectfully.
Snape went brutally hard on him. Harry at some point used Protego which resulted in him entering Snape's mind. Snape's memories were unpleasant like his. With great effort Harry broke the connection.
"Well some improvement at last. It was effective." he was shaking, "Again."
This time Snape saw the corridor of Harry's dreams. Harry managed to block him. However, when he opened his eyes again he witnessed Snape's livid eyes looking at him.
"Well, you clearly don't care about what we do here. No wonder the Dark Lord … ."
"Can ask something, sir?" Harry tried to seem polite.
Snape nodded, allowing him to ask.
"Why do you call him the Dark Lord?"
Before Snape could answer they heard a woman scream.
"Did you happen to see anything on your way? " he asked.
Before Harry could answer the woman screamed again. They both darted out of the office. Harry followed Snape upstairs. When they reached the entrance hall it was full of students all looking at something they couldn't see. In the middle of the Hall they saw Professor Trelawney all drunk and unbalanced. She was being sacked by Umbridge, who seemed disgustingly pleased. Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore stopped Trelawney from leaving Hogwarts. Dumbledore Then introduced them to Firenze, a centaur who would be teaching Divination. Umbridge's livid face made Hermione's day.
The very next day Firenze came, Hermione caused a fiasco. When they asked her if she now regretted dropping Divination, she should have simply answered no. She had not done that.
"I never really liked horses." she had said. Little she did know that an innocent sentence could be such a great insult.
Now if Hermione had been a muggle-born no one would bat an eye. However, she was a pureblood now and that got her some glares, which she initially didn't see, because she was reading the Daily Prophet. She didn't see Harry go pale or Neville almost have a stroke. She made it even worse by saying: "He's still got four legs, doesn't he?"
She was shocked to see all the looks on her when she lowered the newspaper. Fortunately, Harry came to her rescue and asked how Trelawney was now that she was sacked. Lavender and Parvati provided the answer quite enthusiastically.
Hermione unwisely predicted that Umbridge would become worse because of her prejudice against part-humans.
"Well, it's not like you're not prejudiced against him yourself." said Lavender. There were some nods.
Hermione sighed, "Look I'm sorry I called him a horse, and I'm not prejudiced."
"Prove it." Lavender said.
"I will." Hermione said, "I happen to be free for the next period so I'll join you."
Neville gave her an approving smile. And harry closed his eyes in relief.
Firenze did allow Hermione to sit through the session and she actually liked his lesson.
"I must admit that you're much better than Professor Trelawney." She told the centaur.
After the class he kept Harry, Ron and Hermione behind. He asked Harry to talk with Hagrid. He had not been clear about it. He asked Hermione to stay for a word.
"Miss Lestrange, be careful with fire for it's a gift from stars. It can protect you but also can destroy you. "
Firenze didn't provide any further explanation so Hermione left his office wondering what his words meant.
In April Harry started working on Patronuses. Hermione's Patronus turned out to be a raven which kept flying around attacking random things.
"Harry, is it supposed to be so annoying?" Hermione asked.
"Well Patronus is a reflection of yourself. It usually represents your favorite animal or your form as an animagus, so you tell me." Harry explained.
Before she could answer they were interrupted by Dobby who warned them that Umbridge had found out. Panic broke out. On Harry's command, they immediately dispersed.
Harry was on the last to leave and got caught by Malfoy's gang who took him to Dumbledore's office.
There he saw Minister standing next to Dolores Umbridge in front of Dumbledore's desk which was occupied by parchments and tools, on the other side stood Kingsley Shacklebolt, Percy Weasley, and man whom he didn't recognise. They started to question Harry futilely as he constantly denied everything. Then Umbridge tried bringing Marietta Edgecombe. Harry was revolted by her face as it was decorated with pustules that were forming the word "Sneak". Harry knew immediately he and Hermione needed to have a serious conversation about curses and hexes after this was over.
Harry wasn't sure what happened then, but things seemed significantly worse when he left the office. Dumbledore was gone. Umbridge was in charge and Harry was miserable. He couldn't believe their own recklessness. They should have taken down that damn list.
Umbridge hadn't been able to enter the Headmaster's office to their delight. She had unfortunately found a new tool to pressure them. The Inquisitorial Squad was a parallel group to prefects that had slightly more authority.
Only a day later Hermione was invited for a drink.
Umbridge's office was in one world girly. It was in high contrast with Umbridge's rooted cruelness. Hermione stood in front of Umbridge waiting for her to talk.
"Welcome, Miss Lestrange. Take a seat, please." she offered. "What would you like to have?"
"Coffee please." said Hermione immediately. She knew the drill and had to keep Umbridge the least suspicious.
"How is your cousin?" Umbridge asked. Hermione was so surprised by her unexpected question that she drank some of her coffee unintentionally.
"Draco is fine, ma'am. He has been enjoying his status within the IS." Hermione could hex herself for drinking that damn coffee. She suddenly felt an odd sensation in her brain as it b we started to resist the truth serum.
"Are you and Draco close?" Umbridge asked.
"Not a lot, professor; We only found out recently that we're related." That wasn't an answer she usually gave. She had to ask Snape about mixing Veritaserum and coffee. Perhaps it had the opposite effect of the unmixed potion, because while what she had said was true, it was a very misdirecting answer.
"Ah, yes, I've heard. You had to live with Muggles, right?" she asked eagerly, "You would have been placed with Malfoys if we had our way."
She hated this. Normally she would shiver at the thought, but her uncooperative body gave Umbridge a pleasant smile. "They were the right kind of Muggles." she could swear, she had intended to say my parents are great people. It was like her brain was on autopilot.
Umbridge seemed satisfied with her answer. "And you're Mr. Potter's closest friends, aren't you?"
Hermione nodded politely as she said yes.
"Well, we don't have many from Gryffindor in our select group of students in Inquisitorial Squad. I was wondering if you were interested to join them. This could help Gryffindor since I've heard that some of the members deduct points quite unfairly. You could rectify that error and be my eyes and ears among them." Her toad like face was lit with excitement. "Someone noble and wise is required to lead."
Her face became more serious, "Of course I recognise your leadership skills, so I'll leave your hands open as long as we have a mutual understanding."
"Hell, no!" Screamed inner Hermione, but she had zero control over what was happening.
"I see. I will need more details from your requirements, professor." said autopilot Hermione shamelessly.
"Can you control Mr. Potter's erratic behavior? Can you reign him down?" she asked hopefully.
"Well based on experience I know Harry is most manageable when he's not agitated." Hermione said softly as she looked into Umbridge's eyes, "With Dumbledore's influence gone, we have no reason to pressure him much. You need to also keep students on your side. The staff might feel loyal to Dumbledore, because of their shared history. The students have no such history. By managing and not dictating the circumstances, we can keep the student body in check, that worked well enough for Dumbledore."
"Ah you're truly wise my dear. Some more coffee, dear?" She asked.
"I would love to, but I have transfiguration in ten minutes, and you know how Professor McGonagall gets." She said.
"Yes… Yes I know. Then let me accompany you to the door." she followed her to the door oddly behaving like a lost puppy.
When she left the office, her odd sensation started to fade away, "What the F*CK?" She covered her mouth as the F word left it. She had never ever used that word and it was a testament to her anger and despair.
After transfiguration she went to Snape to ask about it.
"Oh no! Not that." said Snape as he avoided her eyes. "You have that detestable gift of Lucinda. It skipped Lucius so I was hoping you wouldn't have it."
"Professor, I'm not a Legilimens." said Hermione obviously confused by his reaction.
"Of course, you are. It just hadn't kicked in yet." He said bitterly. "Our dear Headmistress just activated it by giving you Veritaserum. Natural Occlumeny and Legilimency both come with resistance to truth potions. It could remain dormant for years and a magical shock is usually responsible for awakening it."
He seemed unhappy. "It's normal to have odd behaviors because your magic is trying to use the information it gets from the target. Natural Legilimency is nothing like acquired Legilimency as it comes to you naturally."
"So I can't control this?" She asked desperately.
"You need to practice it consciously so you become accustomed to it." He said. "Until then it will manifest itself when your unconscious mind sees fit."
The moment Hermine left his office, he contacted Dumbledore. He was surprised to see Lucinda, too.
"Is everything all right Severus?" asked Dumbledore with a concerned look.
"Your precious Potter is fine, Albus." Severus answered cooly, "Miss Lestrange is the one giving me headaches."
"What about her?" asked Dumbledore curiously. "Is she in trouble with our new headmistress?"
"You could say that. If becoming the head of her little group of henchmen can be considered trouble."
"She must be dumb if she thinks she can control Hermione Granger." said Lucinda.
"I don't think that's the case." said Dumbledore as doubt was seeping into his words. "Severus did Miss Lestrange do something?"
"Et tu Dumbledore?" said Lucinda with a sad tone. "I don't think she would appreciate you calling her that name."
"My dear we must acknowledge facts."
"Ah, is that so? Then why don't we call her Miss Malfoy?"
Dumbledore seemed shocked at that comment.
"Facts known to public, Lucinda." explained Snape. "Although we call her Lestrange we do privately acknowledge she has Malfoy blood. That's in fact why I have contacted you. She has employed Legilimency against Madam Umbridge."
The pair looked at him with open mouths in a fishlike manner.
"How?" asked Dumbledore in wonder.
"Veritaserum." Snape deemed no more explanation necessary.
"I'm going to kill that idiot bit- Sorry Albus."
"I don't mind you cursing. I believe no responsible honorable adult would do that to a minor." he assured her, "I'm sure she'll one day pay dearly for that."
"Yes, however, Umbridge's sense of responsibility isn't why I called you here." said Snape agitatedly. "The way she described her experience is concerning me?"
"What of it? I've already told you that you have no control over it." Said Lucinda.
"Yes, but you didn't tell me it has control over you." said Snape calmly.
Lucinda froze.
"Are you alright dear?" Dumbledore asked worried if she had finally snapped.
"No, I'm not. I need to get Sirius here."
She left and when she came back, a very annoyed Sirius Black was with her.
"Is it true?" he asked. "She had no control over what she said?"
"No, she didn't as I gathered."
"That's bad. That's really bad." he shivered. "With Legilimency you just know what the other one thinks, with Occlumency you know what you have to think. Over centuries Natural Occlumentes developed a secondary character that is based on falsehood and half truths. It can lie very convincingly. She of course had no control over it, because as a defence mechanism our brain gives the control to the false character in order to nullify the effects of Veritaserum. An inexperienced Occlumens would have zero influence over that character."
"I never noticed you had a second character," said Snape. "It must be quite Slytherin."
"It only manifests itself if I want to and it's not a single character. It can mimic people really well. I'll show you one day." he explained.
"So she's just an Occlumens?" asked Snape hopefully.
"We can't be sure. We have to test her, or in this case you have to." Lucinda smiled devilishly.
"Ask Harry to bring her to your next session." Albus suggested.
"I'll see what I can do." Snape stood without saying goodbye.
The next day Hermione received her little silver badge. It was an innocent silver HI. Her new position made things worse. Ronald stopped talking to her altogether. Other Gryffindors didn't know what to say. She ordered the Inquisitors not to abuse their power excessively. It would be unreasonable to expect a Slytherin to be fair.
"Malfoy, don't deduct points just because someone is a muggle-born or because you don't like them, alright?" she had directly asked Malfoy who had grudgingly accepted her request.
Despite her expectations, Slytherins followed her instructions. According to Malfoy Slytherin only cared about hierarchy when it came to taking orders and Hermione was respected enough to be accepted as a leader. She managed to bring some order back to the school, even though she wanted Umbridge to suffer. Fortunately, the Weasley twins were discreet enough to never be captured red handed. She had ordered the Inquisitors to manage and not tackle. Those who had not listened were in infirmary. Hermione had always known how to convince people, it had always been her natural gift and now the new appearance made it more effective.
Umbridge had become so fond of her. So much so that she tried to relax her restrictions on Harry who had caused much less problems after Dumbledore had left.
"I'm actually using Occlumency techniques." said Harry. "It doesn't stop the dreams, but it helps me a lot with my emotions."
"Harry, you need to lay low and wait for the right time to act, otherwise you'll just get crippled by her machinations and decrees." said Hermione.
"I know." Harry said uncomfortably. "Are you free on Monday at 6?"
"Yes, why do you ask?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Snape asked me bring you to one of our sessions. He didn't explain why." Harry said.
"Well, I think he's tired of you and wants to throw you into a potion. Who's a better accomplice then the Lestrange girl?" she joked.
"Ha ha... very funny, Hermione." said Neville dryly as he was reading A Thousand Deadly Plants and How To Recognise Them.
"Wow, Neville, where did you get that?" Hermione pointed at his book.
"I had to mail order it, couldn't find it in the library." he answered. "Too new apparently. I'll let you read it if you want, you too, Harry."
"Thanks, but no thanks. I've got to finish this one first." he pointed at his giant book, Modern versus traditional brewing.
"Harry, are you sure you're reading that?" Neville's eyes were bulging out, "I thought that was for a N.E.W.T student who had forgotten it."
"Actually, this book is the one I'd recommend reading. Unlike our text book it actually makes sense and some random things that we do at Potions have an actual explanation, that you can find here."
"But you hate Potions." Neville protested.
"No, Neville, I hate Snape. There's a difference." Harry disagreed. "Although, I hate him less this year."
"What did you get for your last essay?" Neville asked skeptically.
"He got an E, saw it myself." said Ron desperately as he entered. "OK, it's official I'm horrible at quidditch."
Hermione wanted to say something but a gut feeling told her to keep it shut.
"That's not true, Ron. You have the talent. You just need to keep your stress under control. Take deep breaths and empty your mind." Harry said.
"Merlin's beard. Snape had turned you into a freak." said Ron in horror.
Harry laughed lightly. "Hermione you tell him something."
Ron sniffed at that. "Please, don't ask the Head Inquisitor to lecture me." he said to the boys' horror.
"Really? That's what you're calling me now?" asked Hermione cooly and looked at him icily.
"Aren't you just that?"
"I think I have already explained what happened." she said indignantly, "Dumbledore is gone, Umbridge is the headmaster. We need to survive, you understand?"
"I do. I think you're going the same path Percy went. One day you look at yourself and realise that you're ministry's little lap-" Ron didn't get to finish his sentence as a stunner hit him in the chest.
"I miss DA so much." said Neville as he put his wand back on the table. Everyone looked at him in shock as he went back to his book.
Umbridge under Hermione's guidelines gave more freedom to students but at the same time tightened the security. Hermione knew that she would think of blocking the fires so she suggested it herself which resulted in various praises from Umbridge.
"Ah, I knew you were smart, but you're wise as well. Now that Dumbledore is gone doing that will be no problem dear." Umbridge told to her, smiling fondly. "Unlike your friend Harry, you weren't not fooled by Dumbledore, were you?"
"He's quite persuasive, ma'am, I wouldn't blame Harry." Hermione. "The truth shall prevail and all this falsehood shall go away once Dumbledore is truly exposed."
"Yes.. yes I shouldn't blame the boy. I've been too harsh haven't I?" she said worriedly. "Perhaps I should revoke the life ban." she said almosted dazedly.
"I think them attacking Draco was very wrong and they must take responsibility. However, they're very proud to apologise. Perhaps revoking it entirely is not the best idea." Hermione smiled at her charmingly. "Perhaps a ban for this year only, is a better choice."
Not to mention it would be far less suspicious to the Ministry.
"You're right, dear. What an excellent idea. Cornelius will be happy with how much success you've had so far dear to bring Mr. Potter to his senses."
"You've talked to minister?" asked Hermione with a friendly tone.
"Oh yes, he's been delighted that we've managed to bring things under our control." She smiled as she drank some tea. Hermione could see that her hand was slightly shaking.
"Are you alright, ma'am?" She asked with fake concern.
"I'm fine. You can go to your dorm, dear."
She waved at Hermione when she left. On her way she saw Draco Malfoy.
"Lestrange," He greeted.
"Malfoy," she greeted back.
They continued their path but suddenly Draco stopped.
"The thing you're doing to Umbridge, will it hurt her?"
Hermione looked back to look at him. His eyes were glued to her shoes.
"Not much." she said, "Are you planning to do something?"
"No." His lips quirked in a nervous way. "We don't mind the way you run things. We're not looking for trouble."
He left without looking back.
Monday came. Hermione and Harry went to the dungeons. Sanpe was waiting for them and Hermione could see his nervousness despite his impassive face. Throughout the years she had spent at Hogwarts, she had learned a lot about her teachers' behaviors. It had proven useful to her as it helped her to become their favorite student. Many students were top but not many were favorites. Two classes were exceptions of course. The defence was difficult because the teachers wouldn't last long enough and potions because Snape didn't like her.
"Miss Lestrange, I discussed your situation with some friends of ours and they had a theory regarding what could have happened between you and Madam Umbridge. First, I must test this theory by using Legilimency against you. May I do that?"
"Of course professor. Just give me a heads up before you do so." Hermione responded.
"I want you to try blocking me." said Snape. "On three... One...two...three... Legilimens!"
Snape's view got distorted as he entered her mind. A few seconds later things became clear. This was not a memory. This was a cube shaped room made of crystal and it was in the water. In the middle a child was standing. It was Hermione Granger. She had the old face as he remembered it. The only difference were the eyes. They were blue initially but he could see their color was changing. It horrified him once they turned red.
"Hello, professor." she looked at him innocently. "Are you lost?"
"No, I'm not lost. I'm in you mind; Miss Granger." Snape said.
"I have to disagree, sir." Mini Hermione said with a cheerful voice. "Let's see if you can be found." she said with a much more mature voice as she took the form of Dolores Umbridge and there Severus understood what Sirius had said about False personality. It was mimicking Umbridge to perfection.
"Dear Professor, are you unhappy to see me?" she said "You were so keen to offer your help before."
A shape came out of nothing floating in the water. It became more detailed and finally took his form.
"I'd be happy to assist you Headmistress." It said and it vanished.
Snape had to get out of here. This memory surely belonged to Umbridge and it must have been extracted by Legilimency, confirming his theory.
"Hmm ... Hmm.. Your theory Severus?" The False ego said as it was maintain it's Umbridge character, "Surely you don't mean that. Being here proves that criminal Black was right."
She smiled viciously as he heard an audible crack. Suddenly water hit him. He couldn't breathe. He was going to die.
"Professor, wake up!"
A hand slapped him hard. He opened his eyes to see Harry Potter kneeling near his laid down torso and Hermione Lestrange standing there with a surprised look on her face.
"Did you just slap me, Potter?" He asked weakly.
"Sorry, sir." Harry apologised. "you just fell on the ground motionless."
"No need to explain, well done. You just saved me." said Snape.
"Were you in danger, sir?" asked Hermione anxiously.
"Yes, not that it was your fault. Well not the real you anyway. Your alter ego just tried to kill me. She could have actually done it if she'd wanted to." he said as he breathed sharply, "We need to talk with some people. Into my private quarters."
They sat on the chairs and waited for someone to come. After two minutes, a woman came. Harry and Hermione were glad to see it was Lucinda.
"Hey guys." she greeted them with a smile.
After a short small talk Snape explained what he'd found out.
"OK, that's a very wild and mischievous false ego." said Lucinda, "It's probably because it's armed with Legilimency. It sees everything and that's not good for anyone. This is why most Legilimens are a bit nuts. i.e: Dumbledore and Tom Riddle are both quite insane by normal standard, because Legilimency makes you see things as they are and not as they ought to be. They don't like liars, because they feel they're being insulted by them. That false ego is not a real ego, it's just a manifestation of what Hermione is actually capable of."
Hermione shivered visibly.
"Tell me if I'm wrong. You have been mentally controlling Umbridge since the day she gave you Veritaserum..." she was cut by Hermione.
"You're wrong." Hermione was crying silently, "I've been doing it since the beginning of the year."
Lucinda was thunderstruck. She was surprised.
"I have been doing it to everyone, since the day I met them. I study and Analyze them and then I use what I find out to my advantage. The difference is that now I know it's called Legilimency." She sobbed, "I've seen Umbridge showing symptoms of mind control and I've kept doing it intentionally to keep my friends safe. It's just more convenient, isn't it?" She said sadly. They could feel her guilt.
"I'd hug you if I were there, Hermione," said Lucinda proudly.
Harry hugged the sobbing girl instead.
"It's not your fault Hermine. You're born with this ability. It wants to be used. And we have to use it sometimes. It can make us a better person, it can also turn us into a monster." she smiled bitterly. "I'm happy that you don't want to embrace the wolf as Remus would put it."
"How do I stop it?" Hermione asked.
"Well, you can't. You can manage it. You can tune it down. Stopping it entirely is impossible since it's an aspect of your personality and being. You don't want to render your brain useless, do you?"
Hermione shook her head.
"I'm afraid you have to keep doing what you're doing to Umbridge. Just be careful not to push it too far. You don't want her to die of aneurysm. Well maybe you would like that, but you shouldn't really. People will get suspicious."
Severus felt his stomach lurch.
"Have you given aneurysm to anyone,Madam Malfoy?" He asked.
"Not to anyone who didn't deserve it." she said with a polite yet cruel smile.
"And people think I'm paranoid for not looking into your eyes." said Snape uncomfortably.
"I actually don't need eye contact, Severus. Some naturals don't need it. Sirius has projected his thoughts to me from thousands of miles away and he's not even a Legilimens."
"So that's how he contacted you?" asked Hermione suddenly remembering one of her earlier conversations with Sirius."
"Well, yes, but we'd rather not mention it because most people freak out." she said with displeasure, "Like Severus is right now."
"Can the Dark Lord glimpse into minds without his eyes?" asked Snape nervously.
"No" she said simply. "He's more like Queenie Goldstein. She was Grindelwald's legilimens for sometime." Lucinda explained. "She had more of a passive Legilimency. Voldemort has honed his skills, but it's like comparing a tiny dagger to a samurai sword."
"So it's meant to hurt people." Hermione asked.
"Not exactly. We believe our form of Legilimency and Occlumency has to do with our other abilities in the family, one of which, is metamorphosis. Sirius believes that originally these were one ability. We call it skin walking." They saw Servers Snape shiver at the thought.
"Of course, our ancestor Aurelius Black was wise and separated these abilities so it wouldn't destroy our minds. It's the first time that someone in our family has two of the three."
"Okay, I'm confused." Said Harry. "When you say our family, do you mean Blacks or Malfoys?"
"Both, of course, Malfoys and Black are essentially one family. My grandmother was a Black. My father was a Legilimens like me. It skipped Draco and Lucius, but Hermione has it."
"Was my mother a natural Occlumens?" Asked Hermione.
"I could never tell with her. I suspect she was, but it was never obvious like Sirius. I knew he was an Occlumens by the age of five, our father took notice of his talent." she explained. "But I know that Bellatrix is well versed now. In fact, she's too good for a mere practitioner. That's why I suspect her to be a natural."
"So what do we do?" asked Harry.
"Oh it's simple. Now you have a Legilimens to work with you. She must learn to use her power consciously and you have to learn to block her unconsciously if you want the dreams to stop."
A/N: Should we kill Sirius just a Little?
