-1Disclaimer: I do not in any way, shape or form own the Harry Potter Characters or universe. I am not writing this fic for a profit. It is for entertainment purposes only.

Irish Eyes

Chapter Five: Lessons from a Master

Bridgette fell into an uneasy sleep that night, after discussing her memories with Dumbledore.

Dumbledore explained that the best course of action would be to take up Occlumency lessons with Professor Snape. He explained that the Dark Lord had the power of Legilimency, and that he could invade the minds of those he had a powerful link with. He explained Harry's situation with the Dark Lord, and how he needed the same thing last year. Harry was having a rough time right now, he said, as his godfather, Sirius Black, was killed last year in a battle with the Dark Lord and he heavily blamed himself.

The next day, a Sunday, brought few surprises. She traveled around with the gang, learning her way around the school. Harry told Bridgette of his thought about last night's memories. "I can only hope you're right, Harry." Bridgette thought for a moment, then asked, "Who is Professor Snape?"

Harry almost choked. "Why do you ask?"

"Dumbledore is going to have me begin Occlumency lessons with him tonight." Bridgette kicked at a wadded up ball of paper in the corridor. "But what if my mum really is gone?"

"Be careful. Snape can get pretty nasty." Ron said, and Hermione elbowed him hard in the ribs. "What? I'm only warning her for her own…" Ron turned green. "He's right behind me isn't he?"

"Yes. I am." Said the silky voice from behind. "Detention, Mr. Weasley, tomorrow night. And five points from Gryffindor."

Bridgette fidgeted under his intense gaze. She found the courage to speak. "Professor? I'm Bridgette Shannon. Has Professor Dumbledore talked to you about me yet?"

"Yes, he has. I expect you in my office no later than seven. We can't have a repeat of last year's… performance, can we?" And with that, he stalked off.

Harry was scowling at his back. "Merlin's beard, Harry," Bridgette said with a grin. "To look at you two, I'd say he really doesn't like you."

"Wow, you think?" Harry spun on his heels and began walking the other way.

"Where are you going, Harry? Lunch is this way!" Ron called to his back. Harry just shrugged and kept walking. "Guess he's not hungry."

"Guess not." Said Hermione. "Less work for the house-elves, I suppose."

Ron rolled his eyes to the ceiling of the Great Hall. "Don't tell me you're starting that up again."

Bridgette looked confused. "Start what up?"

"Well, someone has to! The way they are treated is appalling!" Hermione began to flush very red. "And if you can't see that, well, then you're no better than Draco!" It was her turn to stomp off.

"We'd better sit down and eat before we lose our appetites too." Bridgette said, still completely baffled by Hermione's behavior. Normally, Hermione was calm and collected. But she seemed deeply disturbed by something Ron had said.

"Hermione is on a crusade for giving rights to house-elves." Ron explained. "She thinks we treat them like servants, when really that's all they know. Besides, only rich families even own a house-elf, so I don't see why she's so worked up about it."

"Well, if Hermione's muggle-born, I can see why she might not understand it as well as you." Bridgette shrugged. "No one's really at fault here, then, right?"

Bridgette looked up from her lunch and saw Ron glowing bright red. "What's the matter, Ron?"

Ron was speechless however, and continued to pick at his lunch. After lunch, Ron went to find Harry and Hermione, leaving Bridgette to her own devices. She decided to explore the grounds a little, and maybe find some clues as to how she wound up in Hogsmeade naked.

Hagrid was bent over the pumpkins, closely guarding his precious beauties from invasion. Bridgette decided to say hello, and properly thank him for saving her.

"Hello, Hagrid. How are the pumpkins coming along?" Bridgette knelt down to swat at an insect threatening one of the stems.

"Much better tha' las' year, tha's fer sure." He said, brushing the dirt off of his enormous knees. "Yer Bridgette, ain't ye?"

"Yes, I would like to thank you for saving me. If it wasn't for you I would probably be dead." Bridgette grinned. "I'm probably not the first person you've saved from a sticky situation, am I?"

"Actually, no, yer not." He smiled, thinking back on the night he picked up Harry Potter from Godric's Hollow.

"I'm glad Hogwarts has such a dependable groundskeeper. I'm sure Dumbledore trusts you very much. I should probably get going, but it was nice to speak with you again. Listen, if you find any clues around that might lead to how I got here, would you be sure to let Professor Dumbledore know?"

Hagrid nodded. "Of course."

"Thanks. 'Bye!" Bridgette walked back towards the castle, still looking for any signs of a struggle, anything. That was how she ran into Draco for the first time.

"Excuse me. I didn't mean to run into you like that, I was just a little preoccupied." Bridgette wanted to continue walking, especially after hearing all the horrible things about Draco's personality.

"Hang on." He said, and she stopped, looking very much like a deer in the headlights of a very big lorrie. "You're the new Gryffindor girl, aren't you?" Draco looked back at his cronies. "My name is Draco Malfoy. I couldn't help but think you looked terribly familiar. Aren't you a Shannon?" Bridgette swallowed a lump that had been forming in her throat.

"That's what I've been told."

"So you're the missing girl the Daily Prophet had an article on?"

"It was a very small article, on the very last page, among the advertisements, really." Bridgette did not like where this was going. "Dumbledore is straightening everything out."

Draco didn't look so sure, but he let it slide. "My father knows your father quite well. Says he's a great wizard. Also says that You-Know-Who can't wait to have him on our side."

Bridgette tried to play cool. "That's nice to hear."

"Unfortunately, his family had posed an inconvenience in the Dark Lord's plans." Draco was in her ear now…

"Draco Malfoy! I would appreciate it if you would stop harassing new students. Shouldn't you be on the Quidditch pitch by now, practicing?" It was Snape, an unlikely hero.

"Are you ready for your lesson, Miss Shannon?" He peered down his nose at her. She was still flustered from her run-in for Draco.

"Y-y-yes, sir." She managed to stammer.

"Very well. Follow me." Snape swept down the corridor. He led her into the potions dungeon and shut the door. He pointed to a chair. "Sit." He rifled around his desk for a bit, while Bridgette sat, trying not to tremble.

"I will try to invade your mind. You must try to keep me out."

"Yes, sir." She said, letting out the breath she'd been holding. She was gripping the bottom of the chair so tightly, her knuckles were white.

"Legilimens!" The spell struck Bridgette, and she felt a great pressure on her mind… like someone was knocking about inside. She concentrated hard, trying to push the spell back on him… but it was useless. Snape was seeing her most intimate memories and secrets. Her biggest crush in the Fourth Form, her father, her mother, and she as a happy family taking a trip to America, her father performing the Cruciatus curse on her, the Dark Lord bending her to his will… It was too much, for both of them.