November 1995
Potions classroom
Severus watched the fifth-year Gryffindors and Slytherins leaving his classroom and sighed heavily, knowing he had already postponed his Occlumency lessons with Harry for too long. If he didn't start them soon, Dumbledore would lecture him and Florence would be angry – and not the good kind of angry.
"Potter." Severus called before the boy left the room.
He saw Harry wince and Granger quickly pushed her friend to go towards the teacher.
Granger. It was Severus's turn to wince; he couldn't look at her and not think of James. He hadn't even been able to dock points from her as much since Nicholas had told him about James and her.
Harry stopped in front of his desk, looking at the man who once was his most despised teacher – but who had been recently outhated. "Yes, professor?"
Severus looked at Granger and Weasley: "You two need help finding the door?"
"No, sir." Hermione replied, forcing herself to remember that he wasn't really that insufferable, bringing forth the memory of the man she had seen nine months before at Sophie's birth.
Severus waited for them to leave and closed the door with a flick of his wand, casting a silencing spell as well.
"Sit, Potter."
Harry looked at the chair as if it was going to bite him; he discreetly poked at it with his wand and, when he was convinced there was nothing suspicious about it, sat.
Then Severus began: "Prof. Dumbledore has asked me to give you some extra classes."
"Extra classes?" the boy looked instantly miserable. "On Potions, sir?"
Severus sneered: "I wouldn't waste my time doing that. Although you really could use it." maintaining the façade that he disliked him. "No, Potter. The headmaster wants me to give you Occlumency lessons. Know what it is?"
As expected, the boy shook his head. "No, sir."
"I'd tell you to read on it, but I doubt you would. So if you have the time, which I know you do, I'd like to have our first lesson now."
Harry was about to protest and find an excuse to leave the dungeons, when the door opened and they both looked towards it.
Severus frowned, "Madam Delacour." What are you doing here?
"Prof. Dumbledore sent me to give you a hand with Harry's lesson, professor."
Severus looked at her, knowing she was lying, but he didn't say anything.
Florence pulled up a chair beside Harry's and looked from him to her husband. So, professor, go on.
He narrowed his eyes at her briefly before starting: "Occlumency, Potter, is the skill where someone is able to protect their feelings and memories from external interference."
Florence rolled her eyes at his unnecessary introductory explanation and went straight to the point: "Mastering occlumency will allow you to block Voldemort from accessing your mind."
Harry frowned. "The dreams I've been having..."
"They are, most likely, not just dreams." said Severus, nodding.
And Florence added: "And I can't give you Dreamless Sleep Potion every night, for it has bad side-effects when used for more than three days in a roll."
"That's why you must learn Occlumency." Finished Severus, firmly. "The opposite of Occlumency is Legilimency. And the Dark Lord is a master Legilimens."
"So he can read my mind?" Harry asked.
Florence watched her husband grimace – he hated when someone said minds could be read.
"The mind is not like a book that one can open and just read it at their own will, Potter." Severus said, contemptuously. "However, a master Legilimens is able, under certain conditions, to delve into the minds of his victims and to interpret their findings correctly. The Dark Lord, for instance, almost always knows when somebody is lying to him."
"But I'm not near him, professor." Said Harry, still not comprehending what was happening. "Wouldn't I have to be in his presence for him to be able to access my mind?"
Florence took it to herself to explain that: "Apparently, Harry, the curse that failed to kill you seems to have forged some kind of connection between you and Voldemort. So when you are most relaxed and vulnerable — when you are asleep, for instance — you are, inadvertently, sharing his thoughts and emotions."
Severus continued: "The headmaster thinks it inadvisable for this to continue. He wishes me to teach you how to close your mind to the Dark Lord."
"But wouldn't it be better to let it continue?" Harry asked, trying to understand why they'd want it to stop. "Maybe even strengthen this connection? Then we could learn what he has been telling his followers."
Florence shook her head, not liking the conclusion the boy had reached.
"Potter," said Severus using the same tone of voice he used when James was being stupid, "Besides what others have tried to convince you, you're neither special nor important, and it is not up to you to find out what the Dark Lord is saying to his Death Eaters."
"No — that's your job, isn't it?" Harry shot at him.
Florence gaped for a second, knowing if James had given such a cheeky reply he'd be grounded for a month.
Harry turned white, looking from his teacher to Florence, as if asking for her help – immediately realizing he'd gone too far.
But there was a curious, almost satisfied expression on Severus' face when he answered: "Yes, Potter," he said, his eyes glinting. "That is my job."
Florence looked from one to the other. He knows he shouldn't have said that, Severus. She told her husband, not wanting him to go too hard on the boy.
I can see that, wife. Is that why you're here? To point out the obvious?
She raised an eyebrow at him. No. I'm here to make sure you don't blow it. Being rude to him won't make him want to learn Occlumency, Severus. He's more like Christopher. He's not James.
Severus nodded slowly, understanding what she meant. Then he looked at Harry again.
"Now that we've stablished that I don't want you stealing my job from me, can we discuss the time of our classes?"
"Yes, sir." Harry politely replied, glancing at Florence – something telling him that hadn't she been there, that conversation would've had a terrible ending.
December 1995
One Monday morning, Florence had just arrived in the infirmary when Pomfrey let her know Dumbledore wanted her to go to his office.
So she was knocking on his door, fifteen minutes after arriving at the school.
"Come in." She heard him say from inside the room.
"Did you call me, Headmaster?" she poked her head inside the office.
"Yes, Florence. I did." He smiled. "Have you seen the last two Educational Decrees?"
"Two more?" she frowned, sitting on the chair in front of his desk.
"Yes. Now teachers cannot give students any information not related with the subject they've been hired to teach. Interesting, right?"
She paused, looking at him with worry. "Do you think Umbridge knows about the Occlumency lessons?"
"Maybe not for sure, but perhaps she suspects something. However, I'll talk to Severus about that. The reason I called you here is the other Decree – it disbands all students organizations."
"Including Quidditch?"
"Yes. Including Quidditch. But Severus has already got the permission for the Slytherin team to train."
"Of course he has." She smirked. "Dolores is not going to make things hard for him."
"She's made her interest known?"
"Oh, yes. She wanted to get acquainted with him over a weekend a while ago. Also, she called me a hard stain to remove and threatened to have me sacked."
Dumbledore laughed, shaking his head. "Oh, well, just be careful dear. We need you here in the castle. Now, to the reason why I called you: I believe your godson is involved in activities which have just been declared illegal by our High Inquisitor."
"What kind of activities?"
"My brother told me that Harry and his friends have just founded a small extra-curricular DADA class called Dumbledore's Army, while on their day in Hogsmeade last week."
"Wow." She seemed glad. "That's great! Harry can teach the other students so many spells!"
"Not that great, dear." Dumbledore shook his head, looking worried. "Since all students organizations are illegal unless approved by Umbridge, their doing that gives her reason to expel them."
"Well, that's only a problem if they get caught, Headmaster." She winked at him.
Dumbledore smiled. "And that's the kind of Slytherin answer I should have expected from you."
She chuckled. "I'll help them keep it a secret. Where do they plan on meeting?"
"In the Room of Requirement. I believe you've heard of it." Asked Dumbledore, his piercing blue eyes staring at her over the rim of his glasses.
"Yes, I have." She smiled, blushing a little. "But it was a Gryffindor who told Severus about it."
"James told him?" he sounded surprised.
"Yep." She said, quickly realizing something: "This group of theirs... couldn't it be used to get you out of Hogwarts? Since they're using your name, Umbridge might conclude you instigated it."
"Yes, that would be a way to get me out; Fudge could accuse me of conspiracy and even treason. They would have grounds to send me to Azkaban."
Florence frowned. "Would they?"
"Oh, don't worry, dear. Either way, I have no intention of going to Azkaban. I have a plan at the ready, if it comes to that."
She nodded, waiting for him to say anything else; when he didn't, she got up, "If that's all, Headmaster, I'll return to the infirmary now."
Dumbledore nodded, "Remember that I need you here, Florence, to help Severus protect the students."
"I will be, Headmaster." She stopped at the door. "Even if Umbridge sacks me. She can't keep me out of the dungeons." She smiled and winked at him again.
He chuckled. "That's true. For her absolute despair, that's very true."
And Florence left.
Snapes' family home
Severus was awakened by a sudden sharp pain in his left arm. He hissed in annoyance, opening his eyes and blinking at the vaulted ceiling above the bed.
Then he looked down at the weight he could feel on his chest and smiled at his beautiful naked wife lying there – even through the burning pain in his Dark Mark, he smiled at the sight of her.
He slowly caressed her back, holding her waist and moving her off of him so that he could get up.
"What's wrong, Sev?" Florence whispered, staring at him with sleepy green eyes.
"Being summoned, love." He said as he left the bed.
That had her sitting up, pulling the dark grey duvet up to her chest. "What could father possibly want at this god-awful hour?" she checked the clock: it was half past three in the morning.
Severus didn't immediately reply, taking a moment to just look at her, how sexy she looked with her long messy hair, sleepy eyes and naked shoulders; the velvety duvet covering her body – which he knew bore marks from their intense love-making from a couple of hours before.
"I haven't been summoned in the middle of the night for a while now. So it must be important, love." He quickly dressed up, held his skull mask in one hand and kissed her goodbye, whispering: "I love you."
She touched his face tenderly, worry filling up her emerald eyes, as usual; the fear of losing him weighing on her chest, "Don't you dare not come back to me."
He chuckled, kissing her once more before leaving.
Little Hangleton
Severus walked into the manor and went straight to the meeting room.
"Severus." Voldemort greeted him. "I must apologize for making you leave the bed of a beautiful woman at this hour. But I was awake and something came to me, making me need to discuss it with you."
"I am here to serve you, my Lord." He bowed his head and only then glanced around the room. Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa were there too. He nodded once at the other man and looked back at Voldemort, waiting for him to speak again.
"I called you three here for I have been doing some thinking. Years ago when Severus brought me information regarding Sybill Trelawney's prophecy, I was elated. I was certain that all I had to do to ensure our victory was to kill a little baby or two and their parents." There was an uncomfortable silence. "We all know now how wrong I was. And as I've failed to kill that stupid boy every subsequent time I got him within my grip so far, I've decided to change my target, for the moment."
"My Lord?" asked Lucius.
"I want to hear the full prophecy, Lucius. In it there must be an explanation to how the most powerful wizard to have ever lived could have been defeated by a measly baby. The prophecy must contain the key to finally destroying Potter once and for all."
"The Department of Mysteries has a recording of the full prophecy, my Lord." Said Severus. "Dumbledore offered his memory of that night to them."
"Very well, I want it." Said Voldemort.
Severus opened his mouth to explain how that could happen, but he was interrupted:
"Let me get it for you, my Lord." Said Lucius Malfoy. "I work in the Ministry. I can easily bring it to you." The need to please was obvious in the man's voice.
"I'm afraid only those who the prophecy refers to can remove it from its safe place, Lucius." explained Severus.
The murderous look Malfoy gave him wasn't missed by Voldemort or Narcissa – it was clear to all that that friendship had sunk.
"Lucius." Called Voldemort. "Have you got a problem with Severus?"
"I-I beg your pardon, my Lord?" stuttered the blond man.
"It has reached me, Lucius, how angry you've been since I've started receiving council from Severus. Also, the beautiful woman aforementioned is, apparently, reason of jealousy from your part."
"He's not a man of honour, having an affair inside a school!" Said Lucius angrily.
Voldemort laughed, "You just wish he would share her with you and he has no intention to do so." He paused. "Also he hasn't hidden his wife from me. I know who she is and I've approved of their relationship."
"Wife?" Lucius whispered, surprised, looking at Narcissa to see if she knew that Snape had married Delacour. She quickly shook her head, recoiling from him as if in fear of being beaten.
Severus frowned slightly at that.
Stupid Lucius. He thought, easily recognizing Narcissa's reaction as that of an abused woman – he had seen his own mother recoil like that too many times to not be aware of it.
"Now," continued Voldemort. "I haven't summoned you here to make you jealous of Severus's sex life. The prophecy is my main focus at the moment. So only Potter or I can get it, Severus?"
"Yes, my Lord. It's been magically protected at Dumbledore's request."
"Alright." Voldemort smiled. "I have a plan that I believe will work. You're all dismissed."
Severus turned to the door and left, but not before hearing the loud sound of a slap followed by a female whimper.
He was glad he had already left the room, for he was certain he wouldn't be able stop himself from attacking the blond man.
Two weeks later
Hogwarts dungeons
Severus had once more his sleep interrupted by a feeling – but he wasn't being summoned this time, no; he had the feeling someone was watching him sleep, and he knew it wasn't Florence for he couldn't feel her presence in the room.
So he slowly moved his hand and grabbed his wand from under his pillow, sitting up on the bed quickly, trying to see who was in the room with him.
"Don't hurt, Dobby!" he heard a squeaky voice say.
"Dobby?" he exclaimed, seeing the green-eyed elf standing beside his bed.
"Hello, Prof. Snape!" Dobby smiled.
Severus relaxed his shoulders and rubbed his eyes. "What do you want, Dobby? What happened?"
"Oh, a most awful thing, sir!" the elf said, very concerned. "Headmaster Dumbledore asked me to come call you, sir. To his office. Right now!"
Severus sighed and flipped the bed covers away from him, "Alright. I'm going." He got up, quickly getting dressed and flooing to the Headmaster's office.
When he walked out of the fireplace, Severus was faced with a lot more people than he expected: the four younger Weasleys were there, looking worried, Harry and Prof. McGonagall as well.
Severus kept his aloof demeanour and asked: "You called me, Headmaster?"
"Yes. Severus. I need you to help Harry strengthen his mind tonight. I'm afraid it can't wait – not even til the morning."
"Sure. Follow me, Potter." He ordered, but the boy didn't move. So Severus walked close to him and held his arm, taking him into the fireplace and flooing to his private lab.
When they walked into the room, he pulled out a chair and made the boy sit.
"What happened, Potter? Why was I taken from my bed in the middle of the night to baby-sit you?" he was his usual rude self, hiding his true concern.
For a moment, he thought the Gryffindor wouldn't speak, but then Harry whispered: "Mr. Weasley was attacked, sir. I saw it."
"Attacked where? By whom?"
"At the Ministry. By a snake. But... but I was the snake. I-I was the one who attacked him!" he nearly shouted.
Severus frowned, feeling his blood run cold; Arthur Weasley was on guard duty that night at the Department of Mysteries to protect the Prophecy from being stolen.
"You were the snake?" Severus needed confirmation.
"Yes. Yes, I was the snake."
Fuck! Severus thought. If Harry had seen from inside Nagini's head that meant his connection to the Dark Lord was stronger than Dumbledore had thought.
"Professor," Harry whispered, very concerned. "How come I saw through the snake's eyes if it's Voldemort's thoughts I'm sharing?"
"Do not say the Dark Lord's name!" spat Severus.
"Madam Delacour does."
"She can do it, Potter. I don't have power over what she says or doesn't say. You shouldn't use his name."
Harry decided to drop that discussion, too worried and confused to be arguing about a stupid name. "I have been doing the mental exercises you told me to, sir, but... they leave me exhausted and my dreams are actually worse afterwards. That's what happened tonight: I did the exercises and fell asleep." He shuddered, remembering the attack: "I could taste Mr. Weasley's blood, sir." his voice a frightened whisper, "What... what's happening to me?"
"I told you to empty yourself of emotion. Are you doing that before bed, Potter?"
The boy winced, knowing there was no way he could lie to him. "Not really. I've been finding that doing it is not as easy as you make it, professor."
"Of course it's not easy, Potter! If it was easy than anyone could do it!" He glared at the Gryffindor. "If you don't follow my directions, if you don't improve, then you will find yourself easy prey for the Dark Lord!" said Severus angrily.
Harry nodded absentmindedly, silently staring at the floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with jars of the most diverse and strange ingredients. Then he raised his head, looking into his professor's eyes, begging for some explanation: "Why was I the snake, professor?"
Severus winced, thinking quickly of a reply that wouldn't end up giving the boy more nightmares: "The snake is always around the Dark Lord. He certainly has a connection with it. It's not surprising you were able to access it too."
Harry nodded, agreeing that that explanation made sense.
"However," continued Severus, "If you keep on being lax with your exercises, unable to control your emotions, you'll stand no chance against the Dark Lord's powers! He will penetrate your mind with absurd ease, Potter." He paused, remembering Florence's words: Harry is like Chris – not James. Then he spoke more calmly: "Have you ever heard of meditation?"
Harry frowned at the weird question. "Yes, sir."
"Emptying your mind of emotions is very similar to that. Once you get past the strange feeling of nothingness, you'll be able to drift to sleep without even realizing. And your mind will be protected."
Harry looked at him with surprise, finally understanding that Occlumency may not easy, but it was certainly simpler than what he had been trying to do.
A week later
Florence and Severus were getting to the Great Hall for dinner when they heard a commotion at the Entrance Courtyard and walked there to see what was happening.
Prof. Trelawney was sitting on a wooden chest, surrounded by three large trunks, crying; while Umbridge stood in front of her with a piece of paper and an evil smirk on her face.
Shit! Florence told her husband. Looks like she's sacking Trelawney!
We must warn Dumbledore.
Then she held his arm and apparated him to the Headmaster's office.
"Umbridge is sacking Trelawney!" Florence exclaimed as soon as they appeared.
Severus added: "If she leaves the grounds she'll be in danger, Dumbledore. Trelawney may not remember ever making the prophecy, but the memory of it is still in her mind and the Lord will break her to access it."
Dumbledore was startled by their sudden apparition, taking a second to understand what they were saying. Then he stood up and hushed out of the office to stop Umbridge from sending Trelawney to her death.
Note: a lot of sentences about the Occlumency lessons and the Prophecy were taken from the 5th book and movie.