Chapter 5: Occlumency

Harry awoke early the next morning screaming in agony, as his scar burned with an intensity that he had rarely experienced. Susan rushed in and attempted to soothe him by placing a cool cloth on his forehead, but it did little good for him. So, Susan sat and watched him suffer with a helpless look on her face. The house elves that came into the room could do nothing to ease his suffering, so they as well were forced to sit and watch. Then, as suddenly as the attack began, it was over. Harry slumped back against the bed in relief, and was asleep within moments.

Susan continued to watch over him until her Aunt came into the room several hours later. "Was it his scar?" she asked.

Susan nodded solemnly, "I couldn't do anything for him. Nothing helped. How does he stand it? He was in so much pain, yet he never complains about what life has handed him. If I were him, I would have left the wizarding world behind long ago."

Amelia nodded, "I know, dear, I know. Harry is stronger than that, though. I thank Merlin every day that he is the way he is."

Susan asked, "Do you know what caused it?"

Amelia nodded, "You-Know-Who liberated Azkaban last night. The Dementors went completely over to his side, and a lot of Aurors were killed or kissed last night. The battle went on for hours."

Harry mumbled, "So, I take it that all the Death Eaters we captured in the Department of Mysteries are free?"

"Yes, Harry, they are."

"Then, I need to begin training as soon as possible. Voldemort has brought this war to us, and now I have to take it back to him. I have been a pawn on the sidelines for too long. I'm going to destroy that son of a bitch if it's the last thing I do."

"Dawlish will be here in a couple of hours to start your training. He's the best in the Auror ranks right now. So, he will do well for you."

"I'm going to try to get a little more sleep if you don't mind. I doubt I will be a great pupil if I'm exhausted."

Susan giggled, "From what I hear, you're not that great of a pupil anyway. You're always too busy charging off to save the day to pay attention in class."

Harry snorted, "I pay plenty of attention in the classes that help me do what I have to do. Sleeping in Professor Binns class doesn't count."

Amelia placed a hand on Susan's shoulder, "Well, that's enough. Harry needs his rest. I assure you that Dawlish will not go easy on you."

Susan leaned over and pecked Harry on the forehead, and then left the room with her Aunt. Harry sighed in contentment, and the nestled back down in his covers to rest for the evening.

A few hours later, Harry was awake, and doing a few light stretching exercises while he awaited Dawlish. Harry was bent down touching his toes, when he was hit with a Stunning Spell in the back. A moment later, Harry awoke with Dawlish standing over him clucking his tongue, "That was terrible, Potter. I expected better from you. I was told that you had spent some time around Mad-Eye. I would have thought that him screaming Constant Vigilance would have caught more of your attention."

Harry shrugged apologetically, "I'm sorry, but I wasn't exactly expecting to be attacked without warning right here in Bones' Manor, and I let my guard down. I promise it won't happen again."

Dawlish nodded, "Good. Now, let's get started. Attack."

Harry raised an eyebrow, "Attack? I thought you were training me in Occlumency."

"Later. Occlumency training is useless unless you can sustain your mental shields while you are physically tired. So, its best to be worn out when you go through the training. You'll build stronger shields that way."

Harry smiled, "Okay, then. What about the restriction for Underage Sorcery?"

"That doesn't apply when you're training with a licensed Auror, which I happen to be. Now, are you going to attack or are you going to gab all day?"

Harry went for his wand, and found himself laying on the ground gasping for breath as pain pulsed through his stomach and chest.

Dawlish smirked, "That was terrible, Potter. You didn't even get your wand out. We're going to have to do some serious work on your conditioning. First off, I want you up at five a.m. You are to eat breakfast, and then run two miles. Then, you will go through a full callisthenic workout which I will show you before I leave. All of that should be done by the time I arrive at nine. Then, you and I will duel for at least an hour, and then we will work on Occlumency for an additional hour. After that you will rest and study both defensive and offensive dueling magic for four hours, and then you will run an additional three miles before dinner. The rest of the evening will be for you to with as you please."

Harry nodded as he staggered back to his feet, "Whatever you feel is necessary, sir. I'm ready to work as hard as necessary."

"Good. Now, I'll show you those exercises."

The two of them spent the next thirty minutes going through the exercises until Harry could perform them all accurately. Then, Dawlish took his leave of Harry, and Amelia came into the room.

"Harry, you have a couple of visitors."

"Who are they?"

"It's Remus Lupin and Alastor Moody."

"Okay, I'll talk to them. Thank you, ma'am."

"Harry, you must call me Amelia if you are going to live here."

"Yes, ma'am."

Amelia sighed as she left the room and motioned for the two wizards to enter the training area. Remus was the first to speak, "Hey, cub, how have you been?"

Harry replied guardedly, "I've been fine. How are you, Professor Lupin?"

"Harry, call me Remus, I haven't been your professor for over two years."

Harry nodded curly, but didn't reply. Mad-Eye chuckled, "You're growing up, boy. I can see that whole blind trust thing that you have had going against you for years has dried up."

"Yes, Moody, it has. So, now, why are the two of you here?"

Remus replied, "We've left the Order of the Phoenix, and we want you to know that when the time comes, and you need us, the two of us are here for you."

Harry smiled slightly, "You'll excuse me if I'm a little bit skeptical of that. Both of you have been loyal to the old man for too long. So, I'm not going to be trusting either of you just yet."

"Good, boy. You're learning. However, in time, you'll see that we're on the right side, here." Moody slapped Harry on the back, and then clomped out of the room.

Remus stayed to visit with Harry for a little while, and then he left for the day.

The next morning, Harry struggled through the routine that Dawlish set for him, and then was trounced and beaten in the dueling. Then, he spent time learning how to focus his mind and build the mental shields that were so crucial to an Occlumens. At one point Dawlish stopped the training to ask a question.

"According to the information that I have, you have already undergone some training in Occlumency. How is it that you haven't even begun to build your mental shields?"

"I was never taught how. All Snape did was tell me to clear my mind, and then hurled the Legilimency curse at me."

"You're kidding. You can't teach Occlumency that way. It would be counter-productive. All that would accomplish is to weaken your mind to outside attack."

"Somebody should have told the old man that before he set Snape as my tutor."

"Snape was your tutor?" asked Dawlish incredulously. "I know he's a powerful Occlumens, but he hates you. Everyone knows that. What could Dumbledore have possibly been thinking?"

"He was thinking that for some crazy reason, he trusts Snape, and the damn fool always wants to think the best of people. I just hope I'm standing there when that sentiment gets him killed."

Dawlish blanched as he heard that statement from Harry. "Well, let's get back to work. That's enough of a break."

Harry continued to improve over the next several weeks, as his body began to show the conditioning that he was undergoing. He became faster and faster, while his body built up the lean musculature of a runner. By the end of summer, Harry could best Dawlish in a duel one time out of three, and his Occlumency shields were completely impenetrable. Harry also continued to spend some of his free time with Susan, and the two of them slowly became a little more than friends. A few days before the train left to return to Hogwarts, Harry found himself being summoned to Madam Bones's office.

He stepped inside and waited to be acknowledged. He didn't wait long. "Harry, I'm having a couple of Aurors escort you and Susan into Diagon Alley to get your things tomorrow. Also, Albus has put in a request to meet with you before the school year begins. He has been most insistent, and given his status as Headmaster, and Chief Warlock, I strongly suggest that you oblige him."

Harry nodded, "I will meet with him, ma'am, but I won't promise that he will like what I have to say. I have no intention of cow towing to that old fool ever again."

Madam Bones hid a smile with her hand at his remark, "Just keep your wits about you, Harry. Dumbledore is an extremely powerful wizard, and he is just as intelligent as he is powerful. He isn't someone to make an enemy of lightly."

"Nor am I, Amelia. Nor am I."

Then, Harry gave a formal bow, and walked from the room with a calculated smile on his face.

A/N: Hopefully, all of you continue to enjoy, and as always reviews are appreciated. Happy reading.