Defense Against Mental Intrusion

Lucinda stared at Dumbledore for a minute or two. The old man was refusing to look into her eyes.

"You said the Philosopher's Stone was here."

"Yes I did. It was here." said Dumbledore as he kept his eyes on his Deluminator.

"Albus, I know what that thing is." Lucinda said.

Dumbledore's head moved so quickly that has Lucinda heard his bones crack. He looked at her in disbelief.

"I've met Nicolas Flamel and Perenelle. She's a lovely woman. I cannot stop envying her as she has less wrinkles than I." Lucinda said. "Moriarty took me to Paris in 1978. He took me to Flamels to meet his friends Arthur Conan Doyle and Erik Weiss who were supposed to be dead. They explained to me what the stone actually was and why it should be destroyed. Doyle and Weiss had worked nearly five decades on it but that was nothing compared to how much time Flamel had spent on it. He told me all about it."

"You cannot tell Harry." Dumbledore warned.

"Yes, yes, one evil force at a time." she assured him. "I won't tell Harry, because it has nothing to do with him. You didn't bring the real stone then?"

"Of course not. I'm not that simple minded. That stone is too dangerous for this place." Dumbledore said.

"Good." Lucinda said and she stood up. "That's all I needed to know." She left Dumbledore who did nothing but staring at the Deluminator for fifteen minutes.

*P*

Harry and Hermione stood in the class next to a very excited Ronald Weasley as Moriarty began his intro.

"Your enemies are amongst you. Their intent is not to kill or harm but to find the information that is in your heads." Moriarty said to the fifty people who were standing in his empty class. "I'll reveal three of them. Lucinda Malfoy, Hermione Lestrange and I will be your enemies here, however we have allies between you. When you feel our intrusion, please press this doll in your pocket." He showed his own plush doll and fisted his hand around the doll, squeezing it hard.

"You will start with one hundred points." Lucinda said, "Every time you don't detect our intrusion in time you will lose one point. However, if you press your doll mistakenly you'll lose two points. Once you lose all your points you shall be eliminated by the red light that will expose you. The class has been expanded so we can walk freely. Do not avoid eye contact."

She walked to take a look at the students and he was surprised to see her nephew behind Pansy Parkinson. He seemed calm and collected. Lucinda did a shallow screening, but Draco managed to block her. He pushed his little doll. Hermione and Moriarty started to walk between students. Some weren't aware that the game had already started. Hermione was delighted when Neville managed to detect her. She moved from one student to other. Pansy didn't register her first attempt, but recognised her second attack. Draco's mind seemed impenetrable and he registered her intrusion the moment it happened. Hermione could easily break through his shields, but there was no need to do so. She moved to the next student and to her horror it was Ginny. She stared at the ginger head without attempting to use her power. Ginny showed no reaction but a faint smile. Hermione didn't want to attack, but she eventually did. Ginny's strong yet mature emotions washed over her. They hit her like an electric shock. Hermione immediately cut the connection off and moved. Ginny pushed her plush doll as she moved away.

Harry was doing a good job in imitating Legilimency. He managed to fool a few. Neville and Luna Lovegood were barely fooled, but he managed to fool Cho Chang five times. After an hour students started to lose all points and were eliminated one by one to the point there were only ten people in the class who were still in the game.

"I believe we have our future potential Occlumency experts," said Moriarty. "The next five months will be hell, children. Are you ready to go through hell?"

Although apprehension was visible in their eyes, none of the students said no.

"Potter, Malfoy, come forward." Moriarty said. The boys came to him and stood two yards away from him.

"You two barely lost any points, because you're both practitioner Occlumentes. We will help you learn Legilimency. Please explain what learning Occlumency pertains."

They turned around to face students.

"You will have no privacy." They both said at the same time. That irritated them both.

"It also means constant headaches every night." said Harry.

"You'll learn to hate your master." Draco said. "No one pushed hard today. When you're trying to learn, it's going to be different."

"You'll be pushed to your breaking point." Harry warned.

"Alright, that's enough." said Lucinda. "Don't freak them out, boys."

The boys looked at her as if she was crazy.

"Naturals never understand what practitioners go through." Moriarty explained. "Occlumency is a natural state of mind for a natural Occlumens. A natural Legilimens is even worse," he pointed at Lucinda, "as their mind naturally tunes itself to the mind of the intruder. Usually it's not a good idea to try Legilimency on a natural Legilimens. They will use it against you and you'll be even more vulnerable than someone who is being attacked by them. Ms Malfoy has no understanding, what lack of privacy means."

He stood leaned over a desk that appeared out of nowhere, "Messrs Malfoy and Potter will be instructed separately. Miss Lestrange and Ms Malfoy will be overseeing the girls. The boys will be trained by me. We'll all meet here every Tuesday at seven until the end of the year.

"Sir, we have our N.E.W.T.s this year." says Linda Hornby who was a seventh year student.

"Don't worry, Miss Hornby. You can stop whenever you feel our sessions are deterring you from your studies." Moriarty answered.

This was good news to John Willis and Edward Mckey who were in a similar situation.

"Aren't you worried for your O.W.L.s, Miss Weasley?" Lucinda asked Ginny.

"No, ma'am. I'm perfectly fine." she answered confidently.

"We're done for now. Go back to your dormitories. See you all next week. Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley and Miss Lestrange stay." Moriarty instructed them.

The trio knew the talk was going to be dreadful. Lucinda shut the door behind the students with a flick of her wand.

"I noticed something odd today." Moriarty said. "Miss Weasley what are you to Mr. Potter and Miss Lestrange?"

Ginny froze in her place. Hermione and Harry stared at her worriedly.

"I don't think it's your business, Jim." said Lucinda behind them.

"It's not. I do not wish to interfere in their relationship-" he said.

"There's no relationship." Hermione moaned.

"Don't be ridiculous, you silly girl." said another voice from nowhere. A moment later Severus Snape appeared in a corner holding an invisibility cloak. "Her feelings towards you are undeniable."

"Yes, I agree." said Ginny.

"Ginny!" Harry whispered.

"Potter, you are in the presence of three legilimentes, two of whom are naturals. Do not delude yourself." Snape snarled, "You children have, as Lily used to put it, a bad case of miscommunication."

"They're asking because Hermione is supposed to help Ginny with Occlumency. If Hermione loses control it might end up badly." Lucinda explained.

"Why are you here, Professor Snape?" asked Harry.

"Not all your opponents will be visible, Potter. We wanted to see if any of you could detect me." He responded. "Ms Malfoy was betting on Miss Lestrange. She suspected something was off once or twice but she never detected me."

"Occlumency is not just about emptying your mind." Moriarty explained. "It's also about sharpening it. You must become good at detecting threats, especially if they can't be seen."

"Now back to my unanswered question," he looked at Hermione. "I know that you don't feel the same for Miss Weasley. She's just a friend to you and you want to have a monogamous relationship with Mr Potter. I also know that deep down you're confused. All I need you to do is thinking about my question really well. The answer might take you some time. Surely it won't be a day or two. When you come up with an answer, I will allow you to participate in Miss Wesley's training. For now, however, you're banned from using Legilimency on her. You three can go back to your tower."

After the children left the grown ups sat around to talk.

"Hermione's denial has me worried." said Lucinda.

"Sexuality is a complex thing, Lucinda. I wouldn't say she's in denial so easily. She likes girls, I can tell that much, but I don't think she has those feelings for Miss Weasley." said Moriarty.

"It's her muggle upbringing-" said Snape.

"No, first of all you're both Legilimentes but that doesn't mean you're also capable of understanding how complicated feelings are, also I'd like to inform you that her adoptive parents are very unbiased muggles. I've read her file. Both her parents are dentists and progressive. I don't think they have anything to do with this. Hermione fears that she might destroy her friendship with Ginny in a romantic relationship or even worse lose both Harry and Ginny in the process. Let's not speculate, alright? It's not homophobia, Lucinda! I think you have a big misconception about it,"

"Please get out of my head." said Lucinda politely.

"I'm really sorry, but no can do."

"That's abuse!"

"I thought you didn't mind having people in your head."

"I mind you."

Moriarty smiled and began playing with his little skull. Lucinda started at Moriarty for a few seconds before asking, "How's Draco, Severus? His mind was very disturbed."

"He's distracted and spends most of his time in solitude. He has only one thing on his mind. You already know what that is." Snape responded cooly.

"Even if the boy succeeds, Death Eaters must fail." said Moriarty, "We can't be careless."

"When Draco fails, I won't be able to spy the Dark Lord." said Snape.

"While that may be, I think you could get away with not helping Draco, I've got something in mind when it comes to your role." Moriarty disagreed. He picked up his little skull and gazed into it's empty sockets. "Try to gain his trust. We don't want him to do anything reckless."

"He trusts me the least," said Snape. "He thinks I intend to take his glory away from him."

"There is no glory in killing an old man like Dumbledore." said Lucinda.

"Hey!" Moriarty protested.

"You're not old. If you had aged properly, you'd have turned into a fossil by now." Lucinda defended herself.

"Killing Dumbledore is a Herculean trial. I doubt some backup would make any difference." Moriarty ignored Lucinda's response, "We could fake his death."

"I doubt Headmaster would comply." Snape said.

"Knowing him, I think Severus is right." Lucinda agreed. "I don't know how we could possibly convince him."

"Give me some time. I'll devise a plan." Moriarty assured them. He walked to his desk to pick something from it's drawer.

"Here you are, Severus. This is your Alchemy tutoring permit." He gave a piece of parchment to Snape.

He thanked Moriarty and snatched the parchment. He left without saying goodbye.

"He's troubled," said Lucinda. "He won't show it, but he's worried about Draco."

"Of course. He must tread carefully or the boy will fall into an endless pit." the man said as he rest his wand on the desk, "Have you got any problem, dear?"

"Why do you ask?" Lucinda asked.

"You are drinking again."

"I'm fine." she looked away.

"Nay. Take it slow. You're gonna kill that liver of yours."

"Worried that I'd kill myself with booze?" Lucinda smirked.

"No, dying is what people do. I simply don't wish you to destroy yourself. I don't want you to suffer. I also don't wish to lose such a useful asset."

Lucinda looked at his calm and collected eyes as he said the words with zero empathy. This was the man she loved and revered yet he only saw her as an asset, a tool which could be used at the appropriate moment.

"Sometimes, I'm not sure if you're truly the good guy." she said dejectedly.

"I'm not good Lucinda, not in the sense that you define good." He stood up to go back to his private quarters.

"Wait. There's something else we have to talk about."

"Is that so?" Moriarty smiled as he sat back, "Then let us hear what you have to say."

"Dumbledore said that Harry once saved the Philosopher's Stone. He also told me if was fake."

"I see." He rubbed his fingers on the skull. "He told me the same."

"You knew? Did you know that Dumbledore brought a fake some here and Harry somehow rescued it?"

"Yes I did, but who says it was fake? Dumbledore? I really doubt he's telling the truth. By the way, did he say from who?"

"I didn't ask." she answered. "I was too worried about the damn stone."

"Oh, that's great, my dear. here, let's play a little guessing game. Now, Quirinus Quirrell disappeared that year. Exactly when Harry Potter allegedly secured the stone. What do you think?"

"I heard that he was a good man."

"People fake being good. They never fake being bad. Let's not assume anything. Although Quirrell used to teach Muggle Studies here, when he reappeared he changed subjects. He spent his last year here as the DADA instructor." Moriarty was looking at his skull as if it was his audience instead of Lucinda. "Let me show you what DMLE has on him."

He rotated the skull ninety degrees and closed his eyes. He sat motionless for 5 minutes. He didn't open his eyes until the fireplace sparked green flames and two men stepped in.

"Rattenfanger, Stiltskin, come here." He said as he produced a comfortable sofa on which they sat.

Stiltskin was a very tall and thin old man with blue eyes and of wrinkles on his face.

The other man who was wearing a green suit and a ridiculous kaleidoscopic tie.

"Is Rattenfanger getting ready for Saint Patrick's day?" Lucinda asked innocently.

"You should see Jim on that day." smirked Stiltskin. His voice was very strong and sharp despite his feeble physical features.

"Please show Quirell's file to Lucinda," said Moriarty.

They handed her a very thin file.

"That's all?" Lucinda asked in Surprise.

"Yes, it's not like he had much criminal record to begin with." Rattenfanger said. "He spent some time in Albany."

" Yes, quite a lovely place to learn about Muggles." Moriarty giggled, "I think that makes things much clearer, doesn't it?" He looked at Lucinda hopefully, and she didn't disappoint.

"Oh, he must have met Voldemort there!"

Precisely, you see, there were reports about abnormal activities there. Unfortunately, due to political reasons we were barred from further investigation."

"And here we go again." said Stiltskin. "Another example of how terrible Fudge was. I should have had a talk with him from the beginning."

"Are you insane? What would you do to make him sign-" Rattenfanger stopped himself from finishing the sentence.

"The Sorcerer's Stone was here." Moriarty said. "I knew that. Quirrell is relevant to that fact."

Both men seemed surprised.

"The real deal was here?" Asked Rattenfanger softly.

"I believe the real one was brought here. Flamel moved it to Gringotts a few years ago. His vault was emptied before someone broke into it. First, I assumed that Nicolas had secretly removed it."

"Dumbledore could have pulled a few strings." Stiltskin deduced.

"He wouldn't need to. He set up the account for Flamels in the first place. He has complete access to it." Moriarty responded. "What you two shouldn't forget is his first hand intel when it comes to Voldemort. Headmaster probably knew he was in London so he moved the stone here immediately. Unfortunately, he decided to hide the truth and told me only days ago."

"Then Voldemort wanted Quirrell to bring him the stone. How did Harry save the stone?" Lucinda asked.

"A very crucial question, dear. That is what I'm plan to find out soon."

*P*

Sixth-years' assignments seemed to be endless and the term had barely started. Neville expressed his regrets for taking up Charms the morning Hermione and Harry were supposed to have their first Alchemy session.

"I shouldn't have listened to McGonagall. Charms are much more different than before." He said. "It's too complicated!"

"I think I'm beginning to understand why they named the exams Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests." said Ron.

"I expected worse, honestly." Harry argued. "It's not as bad as you guys put it."

"Ah, we'll see about that. You two have got Alchemy today, haven't you?" Ron smirked mischievously. "Let's see what you have to say after you've spent the next two hours with Snape."

And Ron was right. Alchemy proved to be a very difficult subject. It was held in a class near the dungeons. The class was rather small and there were no chairs or tables in it.

"I think we're in the wrong class." said Draco Malfoy.

"No it's the right class. I made sure." Hermione told him.

"Then why are there pots instead of chairs? I didn't know we were supposed to study Herbology."

The door opened and Severus Snape came in. He was wearing his usual black attire and his hair was as greasy as ever. However, something was off. He seemed less confident than he used to teach them Potions.

"Choose a pot and stand next to it." He waved his wand and walls were covered with posters showing various things. They could see men working with metals, people who were drinking elixir to become young, and on the right side Harry spotted a bunch plants growing very fast.

"Alchemy is considered the father of Potions. It's a delicate art where skill is crucial to success. One cannot simply mix things and follow instructions to achieve their desired results. This is not your ordinary everyday magic, here we do miracles. I might be able to teach you a few tricks since you have proved to be more capable than most students."

Snape walked toward a pot.

"Although Greeks had always known about Alchemy, they were not it's creators. They had simply inherited their knowledge like many others before them. However, they did bring some new concepts." He said as he raised his arm and opened his hand. There was a seed in it.

"The Orange Tree." Hermione exclaimed.

Harry and Draco stared at her like idiots. Those seeds were clearly not orange seeds.

"Yes, Miss Lestrange." He said with a sly smile. "That's what we're going to learn today, but we won't be working with oranges. As you can see we have apple seeds."

He planted his seed into a pot. "Alchemy is the magic of change and transformation. In ancient times they used it to do great things. Today most of that knowledge is lost."

Snape flicked his wand and a window appeared on the roof emitting sunlight light. He planted the seed and dipped his fingers into the soil. To their amazement a very tiny plant sprang out and grew. It was like Snape was manipulating time. Harry could feel the air gushing around them. It encircled Snape and the tiny apple tree that was growing rapidly.

"I feel weird." said Albert Fin a sixth year Ravenclaw with red hair. "I cannot explain it, but I can't breathe well."

Snape stopped the growth and wiped his sweaty forehead.

"It's hyperoxia." Hermione said. "There is too much oxygen here."

"Hyper-what?" asked Draco, trying to breathe normally.

"Take this bags and breathe into them," said Snape annoyedly. "This should bring your oxygen levels back to normal."

"I don't understand, professor. How is it possible to do this without water?" asked Harry.

"These pots are charmed to be filled with water constantly. That window on the roof is our source of light and the soil is full of nitrate." Snape explained.

"Even if you're well trained in Alchemy, you need proper circumstances to do it. There are places where these circumstances are attainable." Snape waved his wand and the posters were replaced by pictures and instructions.

"Read everything carefully before making any attempts." Snape warned them. "Or you'll spend your weekend in a hospital wing."

Harry was dissatisfied with his progress by the end of the session. His seed had barely germinated. Malfoy had kept trying until he had fainted. Fortunately, Harry had managed to at least remain conscious to the end of the session.

"Ron was right. This is gonna take time and effort." said Harry as they were walking to their next class. "And we have transfiguration next."

"Let's not tell him all about it, okay?" said Hermione.

"Alright,"

They reached Transfiguration Class were Ron was awaiting them.

"So, how was it?" he asked. His eyes were filled with curiousity.

"Meh. Not bad." said Harry indifferently.

"Yeah, sure." Ron smiled triumphantly as he knew Harry and Hermione probably had a hard time in Snape's class.

McGonagall's wasn't any better as they left with a huge headache.

The next day Harry had his first class with Slughorn. He had brought a number of potions to be identified by them. To Hermione and Harry's dismay there was a pot of Amortentia there as well.

"Hey Potter. What happens if you lose your Potions book?" asked Draco before Hermione entered the class. Malfoy vanished Harry's Advanced Potion Making.

"Don't worry you'll get it after the class." he smirked at Harry.

"Draco." Hermione said coldly by the door frame next to a fuming Ronald Weasley.

Draco paled significantly. "This is j-just a j-joke." he stuttered in fear.

"I know." she said. "I'm sure professor Slughorn has some spare second hand books."

Slughorn did have two spare books. Harry opened the older and more damaged one and found out that it was full of useful scribbles and notes. He didn't hesitate to pick it up. He could learn from someone who had written so much in his book.

"I've prepared a few potions for you to have a look at, just out of interest, you know. These are the kind of thing you ought to be able to make after completing your N.E.W.T.s. You ought to have heard of 'em, even if you haven't made 'em yet. Anyone tell me what this one is?" said Slughorn as he pointed to a medium sized cauldron near Slytherins.

Hermione didn't raise her hand, but looked at Slughorn directly in the eyes.

"Miss Lestrange." he said a bit uncomfortably.

"Veritaserum, sir. It's colourless and odourless capable of compelling the drinker to tell what he assumes to be the truth."

"Very good." he smiled at her and moved toward the Ravenclaw table. "This one here is pretty well-known. You might have seen it in Ministry's leaflets, too. Who can tell us what's this potion? Mr. Potter?"

"Polyjuice potion, sir."

"Brilliant. Yes it's a potion that could create a lot of problems if brewed illegally." Slughorn said. "You need to notify the ministry that you're making it, if you intend to do so."

Daphne Greengrass raised her hand.

"Yes my dear."

"Why isn't Polyjuice entirely illegal, sir? Isn't impersonation against law." she asked.

"Ah, well if you're using it to deceive someone, then it becomes illegal. But that's not the main usage of it. Many wizarding couples use it to spice up their relationship, if you know what I'm talking about. We don't want 'em to divorce, do we?" Slughorn explained to their dismay. "Now this one here-"

Harry and Hermione grimaced.

"It seems that you two again know what this is." said Slughorn, worried by their morbid expressions.

"That's Amortentia, si r."said Hermione.

Harry continued, "It's the most powerful love potion ever made."

"Quite right, my dears. Did you recognise it by is distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen?"

"Actually, the smell was a big give away," said Hermione.

"I smell old leather and burnt wood." said Harry.

"While I smell freshly mown grass and new parchment." Hermione finished.

"We also smell each other." said Harry swiftly and inaudibly, becoming red with shame.

"A perfect couple: beautiful, famous and smart. I expect great things from you two." said Slughorn excitedly.

"Now, Amortentia doesn't really create love. It is impossible to imitate or manufacturer love, what it can do is to generate great infatuation or obsession. This is the most dangerous and the most powerful potion in this place as Mr Potter and Miss Lestrange clearly know." he looked at Not and Draco who smirked at this and continued, " When you have seen of life as much as I have, you will not underestimate the power of obsessive love."

"And now," said Slughorn, " it is time to start our work."

"Sir, you haven't told us what's in that one." said Ernie McMillan. Harry looked at the small black cauldron he was pointing at. The potion within had a distinct gold colour and considering the size of the pot Harry knew exactly what it was.

"Is that liquid luck, sir? Felix Felicis?" asked Harry excitedly.

"Yes, Harry. You've got very keen eyes, my boy." He moved to the potion. "What's the purpose of Felix Felicis, Miss Lestrange?"

"It makes you lucky."

That's what everyone's attention to the little cauldron. Even Draco Malfoy was paying attention.

"That's quite right, let's give Gryffindor forty points for identifying the potions correctly."

Malfoy was baffled by the amount of points given to Hermione and Harry.

"This potion is extremely hard to make and the results would be disastrous if you get it wrong. If correctly brewed as this one has been. You will find that all your endeavors lead to success, at least until the effects wear off." Slughorn explained.

Then, he answered the question why people didn't drink it all the time by explaining how dangerous overusing it could be. He told them that he had taken this potion two times in his life, how wonderful the experience had been and that it would be their prize if they made the best potion today after warning them that it was in sporting events, examinations or elections.

The potion was the Draught of the Living Dead, which Harry knew was more complex than any other potion he had ever attempted to make before, aside from the Heritage Tree Potion.

He moves swiftly, concentrating on the book and the material that he would need. Has he read the note is that the previous owner had suggested to crush the Sopophorous Bean rather that cutting it to release the juice more efficiently. It made sense so he did it and that worked splendidly.

"Sir, I think you knew my grandfather, Abraxas Malfoy?"

Harry didn't look up to see Malfoy waste his time gaining Slughorn's favour.

"Yes I did. I'm sorry to hear that he had died, although it wasn't unexpected, dragon pox at that age-"

He walked away to Hermione saying. "I knew Miss Lestrange's grandfather much better. I really enjoyed spending time with him, he was a great company albeit a bit cold mannered at times."

Hermione smiled politely.

Harry was progressing astonishingly with the help of the previous owner of his book. Even Hermione was amazed by his result.

Harry told her what to do but she didn't want to do anything that wasn't mentioned in the instructions.

"Come on Hermione, trust me on this."

She did not regret doing so as they both ended up with perfect potions, but Harry's was slightly better.

"Ah, we have two very good candidates here. But our prizes goes the most perfect potion. Congratulations, Harry. That is an excellent potion you have here. Yes, you have clearly inherited your mother's natural talent for potion making." he said when he reached their table and saw Harry's perfect portion, "Lily was a dab hand at Potions, she was."

He then gave him a tiny bottle of Felix Felicis which was immediately pocketed by Harry.

No one suspected Harry making such a wonderful potion as he had improved drastically last year. Hermione didn't approve of using the instructions in the book and found it unfair to other students, but Ron defended him and said that Harry had simply taken a risk which paid off.

"Hang on." said a voice behind Harry and Hermione. They smelled a very familiar smell which they had smelt back in the dungeons. They both turned around to see Ginny Weasley. "Did I hear that you've been taking orders from someone in a book, Harry?"

"Oh Ginny, this is different." Hermione continued, "It's nothing like the dairy that Harry destroyed. It's just some plain scribbles."

"But he's doing what it says?"

"I just tried a few tips - it's nothing really … "

"I think she's got a point. We've got to check it." Hermione agreed, "What if there's something wrong with this book and we don't know."

"Okay, let's check it." Harry handed her the book.

"Let's see."

Hermione cast a bunch of detecting spells at the book rapidly, but she got nothing.

"What does green mean?" asked Ron.

"Nothing. It's safe." she gave it back reluctantly. "I suppose you're not in need of your own book now that you have this."

"Actually, I do need it. I want to do the same to my book. I'm gonna make my own Advanced Potions guide book."

Harry opened the first page and saw something interesting.

This book belongs to the half-blood prince.

Over the next week Hermione realised how much she hated that book. She knew Harry still would be the best even if he didn't have the book, but she couldn't dismiss her conscience yelling at her that it was unfair to have an advantage like this over other students.

Ron hated the book for different reasons such as not being able to read it properly. For some reason Harry had no problem reading the scribbles. The book was perfect for him.

"Hey, I was wondering who the Half-Blood Prince was." He eventually decided to ask Hermione on the way to Occlumency training.

"The handwriting is similar to a girl's." she said.

"Yeah, but I don't think a girl would call herself prince. The title suggests that he's most likely a boy."

They entered Moriarty's office. They were instructed not to knock.

Harry felt Moriarty attacking his mind and immediately spread his mental barriers.

"Very efficient of you Mr. Potter. Try blocking me softly, you'll find it more impressive."

"The usual drill, sir?" Hermione asked.

"Just one thing before we get ready. Professor Dumbledore wants to see Harry today. You should go to his office after our session."

"Didn't he say why he wanted to meet me?"

"Even if he did, I have forgotten all about it. You can leave 15 minutes earlier."

To Harry this session took ages to end.