Dislcaimer: I don't own it

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Chapter Twenty-Three: Occlumency

Hope was sitting in the chair beside Harry's, and in front of Snape's desk. She had yet to have her attack, but had finally gotten a good night sleep, thanks to Severus and Draco.

Hope listened to Severus' lecture halfheartedly. She didn't do well with theory, but had to actually practice something to get the hang of it.

"Occlumency is the art of magically protecting one's mind from external penetration, sealing it against...Hope, are you even listening?"

Hope shrugged. "Theory never did sit well with me, why don't we go ahead and practice?"

Harry grimaced, remembering the horribleness of these practices, and knew Hope would not want to do it often afterwards.

"Hope, I don't think you should practice. Maybe just watch?' Severus offered, eyeing the girl for a reaction.

"Not a chance. I can't learn from watching. What would even make you think that?"

Severus sighed. "Hope, you haven't had your episode yet today. If I legilimens you, it opens up your mind, and that could make you more vulnerable for the attack." Seeing her stubborn expression he decided to negotiate. "How about Potter goes first, then you decide if you want to."

Hope thought about it and then shrugged. "Harry can go first, but I'm going to do it."

Harry mumbled and stood up, removing his wand. He heard the spell then fought to clear his mind unsuccessfully before seeing the memories flash before his eyes: Sirius, his summers at the Dursley's, and Cedric. When Snape ended the spell, Harry was laying on the ground, shaking.

"For Merlin's sake, Severus, what did you do?" Hope exclaimed, helping Harry to his feet with a glare at her godfather.

"That was pathetic, Potter. The Dark Lord would have crushed you under his shoe," Severus spat, ignoring his goddaughter.

"Bloody Hell, Severus! You're not Voldemort. Legilimens me and see if I can handle it. You told him nothing, so don't give me hints," she spat, still glaring at the man in front of her.

"Hope, sit down. He's not making progress and is welcoming the Dark Lord for another attack; it's almost as if he wishes for his friend…"

"STOP IT!" Hope screamed before Harry could. "You don't know what it's like to feel like you're the cause of someone you LOVE dying, so just shut up and legilimens me!"

Snape sighed before casting the spell. Hope's memories flashed before his eyes.

Hope was standing face to face with Voldemort. "Are you ready to join me yet, my precious snake?" He whispered in her ear.

"Give it up, I'll never join you," Hope stated defiantly. Voldemort stepped away and waved his hand before the torture session started.

The scene changed:

Hope was hearing Draco tell her about the adoption.

"Severus adopted me this morning. He made it official."

Hope's face dropped and tears welled up in her eyes.

"I'm happy for you. I'm sure you'll make an excellent son to him," she said, before getting up and walking off, ignoring his calls for her to wait. She walked as far away and high as she could go in the school, and was standing at the Astronomy Tower .

She sat on the ledge and dangled her feet over the ledge as the tears fell from her face. She was like that for a while, until finally standing up and walking to the door. She stopped at the doorway and turned back to the stars before muttering.

"I guess I was right. He doesn't care about me like he does Draco. Why would he?"

She turned and left, going back to Dumbledore's office.

Severus pulled himself out of her memories with a shocked face. "Hope?" He whispered to the girl curled up on the floor. When he didn't get an answer, he went and knelt down in front of her. Noticing her labored breathing and shaking, he knew what was happening.

"Harry, go get the potion in the top drawer of my desk."

He waited until the shocked boy did as he was told. "Hope, listen to me. Focus on me, not the pain. We have to talk."

Hope shook her head, causing her blonde locks to fly everywhere and reveal her tear stained face. "It hurts," she muttered.

"I know, Lea." He took the potion from Harry and held the vial to her lips. He watched as she drank it and relaxed against the wall after a few minutes. "Better?"

"Mostly," she mumbled, eyes still glued to the floor. "Can I go?"

"No, we need to talk. What still hurts?"

"I'm sore. Worse than I've ever been. It's almost like back in third grade when I tore the tissue in my wrist. Except now it's everywhere," she explained softly.

Snape nodded and looked at Harry. "Go get Madam Pomfrey. Tell her to meet us in my quarters."

Snape gently lifted Hope into his arms and took the side door into his bedroom and set the girl down gently on his bed.

"Sev'rus?" Hope muttered, her eyes closed, causing her dark eyelashes to stand out against her pale skin.

"Yes?" He said, sitting down and pulling her head into his lap.

"You have to explain Occlumency to us. Not just expect us to know it," she whispered weakly.

"I will, Hope. Just relax until Poppy gets here." He felt Hope relax a little and saw her breathing start to even out. "Stay awake," he ordered gently to the dozing girl

She groaned but did as he asked. A few minutes later Poppy came in, her wand already out. She said the spell to get a diagnosis and shook her head, muttering something that sounded like 'that poor girl' and 'already been through hell, only to get more thrown at her'. She asked Severus for several potions which he pointed to.

Harry was watching the exchange with an unreadable expression written on his face, until Hope gently called his name while the mediwitch was getting her potions. He walked over to the bed and took the hand she held up.

"I should apologize for how I acted the other night…" Hope started but Harry stopped her.

"Don't worry about it now, Hope. Just relax," he said, noticing the pain still etched into her features. She nodded wearily.

Poppy handed Hope two potions which the girl drank before falling asleep. She wasn't allowed a pain potion with the one in her system, but was given a sleeping one as well as a potion that would knit together the majority of the tissues. She would be a little sore, but other than that, fine.

Harry sat holding her hand while Severus left and went into the lab. About an hour later, Draco walked in and with a nod from Severus joined Harry. They stayed that way until a few hours later, when Hope awoke, and then they all sat around her, joking and laughing until the night called them all to sleep.

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A/N: This has to be one of my favorite chapters. Hope you enjoy. Thanks to everyone reading, and of course my beta!!