Here it is, a new chapter! This one goes out to Jamie46, Zarz, and Unclear Destiny – don't you just love reviewers. :)

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T.G.I.F?

It was with a feeling of dread deep in his stomach that Harry made his way to the first Defence against the Dark Arts lesson of the year at 9 O'clock on Friday morning. By the way the other Gryffindors were dragging their feet he felt sure he wasn't the only one. Poor Neville was practically shaking in his shoes.

The pups had been left behind with Ginny and her friends since Harry was pretty sure that Snape wouldn't hesitate to take points from them despite the Headmasters instructions that they were supposed to go everywhere with them. Mandrake was with Hannah in the Hufflepuff dorms.

They hesitated outside the classroom door where the Slytherins were waiting with sickeningly superior looks on their faces. It was pretty obvious that DADA was going to be the new Potions. Harry was just glad he couldn't see Malfoy, though he did notice Zabini glancing over at him curiously.

The door slammed open suddenly and Professor Snape stepped into the corridor.

'Inside,' he snapped.

The classroom was gloomier than Harry ever remembered seeing it, including those times when Snape had substituted for Lupin in Third Year. The heavy wooden shutters were closed and the candles cast eerie flickering shadows over the walls, which had been decorated with gruesome pictures of what looked like people in a great deal of pain.

Snape took his place in the deep shadows at the front of the class. Harry squinted but in the gloom the professor seemed like little more than a looming shadow and a menacing voice. Even so he could feel Snape's eyes boring into him as he began to speak.

'Considering the teaching you have received over the past 5 years, very little of which truly concerned the Dark Arts I am surprised that so many of you managed to scrape an OWL in this subject. Be warned, the NEWT work will be far more advanced and I will be very surprised if all of you make it through the year.'

Snape set off around the edge of the room, speaking in an even lower voice.

'The Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing and eternal. They are spells of great power and intricacy, spells of a level far beyond your own. Let us illuminate the inadequacy of your previous grounding in the subject.' He smirked.

'In your third year you might as well have been taking Defence against Dark Creatures, not surprising given your teacher.'

Harry felt his hackles rise.

'Do you really expect the Dark Lord to employ Red Caps and Hinkypunks against you when he can command Dementors and Inferi?'

A sudden flare of candlelight made everyone in the class jump and illuminated two pictures. One clearly showed a mans soul screaming as it was sucked from his body by the Dementors Kiss, leaving him staring blank eyed and hollow. The other was a wash of red and it took Harry a moment to identify the fact that there were bits of body strewn around in it.

The candlelight died down and Snape continued.

'Your Fourth Year, covering Dark Curses, at least managed to teach you something useful. Which is more than can be said for your First, Second or Fifth. The Unforgiveables are something you can certainly expect to be facing though the methods of defence you were taught are only of the most basic level.'

Candlelight flared again to reveal a trio of pictures at the back of the class showing people suffering under the effects of the unforgiveables. Snape waved a hand and candles flared all along the walls, flames jumping and dancing maniacally on pictures which left very little to the imagination.

'The Dark Lord has far more at his command than a handful of curses. From the most insidious of magics to the foulest of creatures, from the most potent of poisons to the darkest of spells they are all his to command. Your defences must therefore be as flexible and inventive as the Arts you seek to stand against.

These pictures,' he gestured towards them as he swept past, 'give a fair impression of what happens when they aren't.'

The class was silent as he swept back towards his desk.

'You are, I believe, complete novices in the use of non-verbal spells. Can anyone tell me what is the advantage of the non-verbal spell?'

Hermiones hand shot into the air. Snape took a moment to look around at everybody else, making sure he had no choice before saying curtly 'Very well – Miss Granger?'

'Your adversary has no warning about which spell you are about to perform giving you a split second advantage.'

'Yet another answer word for word from the textbook,' Snape said dismissively. 'But essentially correct. Those who progress to using magic without shouting incantations gain an element of surprise in their spellcasting though not all wizards are capable of this. It is a question of concentration and mind-power that some,' his gaze lingered on Harry once more, 'lack.'

'You git!' Harry thought furiously. 'You know full well that wasn't the problem with Occlumency – you were! And it wasn't like your concentration was that good when I broke into your memories was it Snape.'

He was still fuming as the professor divided them into pairs and instructed them to practice cursing and shielding in silence. Snape swooped around the classroom like an overgrown bat, sneering at their attempts and completely ignoring the fact that Hermione had already managed to deflect Nevilles jinx twice without saying a word.

Harry's mind couldn't help wandering since it didn't seem likely that Ron was going to succeed any time soon.

'You are, I believe, a complete novice in the use of a microwave oven. Can you tell me what the advantage of a microwave oven is? No? Pathetic Snape. How can someone who has had absolutely no experience whatsoever of muggle kitchen gadgetry be so incomparably ignorant of its uses? Demonstrate it? Now why would I choose to do something like that? Of course it would make things easier for you – why do you think I haven't done it? smirk

Snapes voice broke into his musings as he suddenly appeared beside Ron.

'Pathertic Weasley. Here, let me show you –'

He turned his wand on Harry so fast that he reacted instinctively. All thoughts of non-verbal spells forgotten he yelled the Shield Charm he had spent so long practicing with the DA last year.

Snape was knocked off his feet in a burst of violet light and the class was silent as the professor picked himself up, scowling. He stalked back to loom over Harry.

'Do you remember me telling you we were practicing non-verbal spells Potter?' he asked silkily.

'Yes.'

'Yes, Sir.'

Harry refused to drop his gaze, glowering into Snapes eyes as they bored into him maliciously. Suddenly, images began rising in his mind.

'BOOM! No Snape, it isn't supposed to do that. And in the hands of anyone who is not an ignorant cretin it refrains from doing so. Water and electricity do not mix Professor Snape, and never have. You didn't know? That's hardly an excuse coming from someone who expects 11 year olds to know the magical properties of herbs they've never heard of.

10 points from Slytherin for double standards and 10 more for destroying the computer. Now clear that mess up.'

'You had all the necessary ingredients Professor Snape, washing powder, fabric softener, everything. There are even instructions printed on the reverse of the box! The washing was not supposed to turn bright pink, nor to suddenly shrink 3 sizes. Ahhh, and here is the mistake. You do not mix your reds and your whites professor. I don't care if wizard washing is nothing like this – this is muggle washing, at which you are evidently an utter failure.

Of course it is possible that you could learn and improve but why should I make the effort to change my opinion of your abilities when you made such an enormous mess for me to base it on? I don't happen to like you Snape so I see no reason to treat you fairly.'

'My, my, my, we've finally managed to switch the tv on. Isn't that an achievement. Don't pout Snape, what did you expect? Praise for something muggle children unable to even walk can manage? Yes, I did tell Lupin well done. Yes Lupin is a half-blood and already knew what a tv was. Your point? I happen to like Lupin, sneer something I very much doubt I will ever say about you.

Speaking of which you didn't turn it on quite the way I wanted you to. 5 points from Slytherin for sheer stupidity and 5 inches of parchment on the best methods for tuning on audio-visual equiptment. By tomorrow or you'll have a detention to work on it.'

Harry watched as Snape's usually sallow face turned a mottled red and purple. His long fingers began to flex as if they were imagining finding themselves wrapped around Harry's throat.

'AND THATS WHAT YOU GET FOR SNEAKING INTO OTHER PEOPLES MINDS!' Harry yelled mentally.

A vein started to throb in the professors forehead.

'Detention, Potter,' he whispered harshly. 'Saturday night. 9 o'clock. My office. And 10 points from Gryffindor for failure to obey instructions.'

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'What on earth was all that about?' asked Hermione as they made their way to Enchantment.

'That bloody git was looking inside my mind again!'

'He used Legilimency on you? In class?'

'Yeah, but he didn't much like what he saw,' Harry snickered.

'What did he see?' asked Ron.

'Harry, you have to start practicing your Occlumency. If Professor Snape was able to get in…'

'I know Hermione. And I will. Once Remus starts teaching me I'm sure I'll get better, even if it's only to prove what a bloody rubbish teacher he was!'

'We're never going to learn anything this year if he's just going to pick on us like he did in Potions. You have to get the DA up and running again soon.'

'Tomorrow Ron, I promise.'

'You've got detention tomorrow night remember?'

'I don't care! We'll sort something out. If not tomorrow then definitely Sunday alright?'

'Yeah, okay. So, what did he see?'

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In Enchantment, in the hour before lunch, there was a test, which Hermione flew through but Ron and Harry found intensely gruelling. Professor Lyon, who had spent much of the lesson fiddling with the grandfather clock again then assigned a further 5 chapters to be read for Wednesday's lesson.

Harry privately decided to work a bit harder on this second set of chapters, just in case he decided to spring another test on them.

They finally had the chance to pick up their Grims at lunch and took them down to play on the shores of the Lake for an hour before Harry had to run and meet Neville for Herbology. He reminded himself that he would need to re-stock on camera film next time they were in Hogsmeade since they'd just used up all he had.

He wondered if Ron would succeed in talking Hermione into heading into town to get them developed or whether she would actually manage to force Ron to make a start on his homework before she left for Arithmancy.

In Herbology they headed straight for Greenhouse 6, where many of the magical herbs destined for the Hospital Wing were grown.

'Now pay attention everyone and someone get that animal away from my Strangler Vines!'

Harry grabbed Orion by the collar and dragged the curious pup back.

'Welcome to Greenhouse 6 and NEWT level Herbology! In here are some of the many magical herbs and funghi which we will be growing for Madame Pomphrey. This year it has been decided that the course will concentrate on growing a larger amount of healing herbs than usual, just in case.'

She rubbed her dirt-stained hands together briskly. 'Right, gloves on and trowels out. We'll start by planting Arnica and Spider Moss.'

2 hours later and they had finally caught the last of the Spider Moss, which liked to scurry off and hide in dark corners but was an excellent coagulant, and planted it in the damp and rocky troughs they had prepared.

'All right, that's enough for today. I'll see you all on Monday, class dismissed.'

Ron was waiting outside the greenhouses for him, minus Selene.

'I think Hermione decided it was safer to take her to Arithmancy than leave her with me,' he said cheerfully.

'Wonder what gave her that idea,' Harry said with a grin. Ron laughed.

'Katies just put up a notice for the Quidditch tryouts. It's a week tomorrow – she says we all have to try out again. Told her I'd pass the message on.'

'Cheers. You want to go to Hogsmeade? I'll buy you a Butterbeer.'

'Why not. Did I tell you what Hermione had me doing while you were gone…'

They were waylaid by Dennis Creevey before they even left the gates.

'Hiya Harry!'

'Hi Dennis.'

He chattered excitedly for a moment about Colin's plans for a photo shoot, which had Ron laughing and Harry's eyes widening.

'Don't worry Harry! It'll be fun, you'll see!' He then pressed a scroll into his hands and ran back towards the castle.

'What's that all about?' asked Ron. 'Another message from Dumbledore? Or is it instructions for your hair and make-up for the shoot?' He sniggered.

'Shut up Ron.'

Harry opened the scroll and was surprised to note that the headmaster hadn't sent it.

'It's from Remus,' he said. 'Wants me to meet him in the Astronomy Tower in 10 minutes. I'll have to run.' He paused for a moment. 'Will you take care of Orion for me – it's just, I mean,' he stopped, unsure how to put into words the fact that it just felt wrong to spring the young Grim on someone else who was still mourning Sirius.

Luckily he didn't have to. 'Course I'll take him. And you still owe me that Butterbeer. Don't think I'll forget.'

'Cheers mate.'

Harry sprinted back along the path to the castle and cut across the lawns to one of the smaller side doors near the Astronomy Tower. He was out of breath by the time he reached the door at the entrance to the Astronomy classrooms and stepped inside.

Lupin was stood staring at the revolving model of the moon phases as he crossed the floor but turned with a smile as he heard Harry approach.

'Hello Harry,' he greeted warmly. 'I wasn't sure if I'd left you enough time in my note. The headmaster told me you had a few hours free.' He gestured towards a wooden bench with red cushions and laughed. 'Best sit yourself down and catch your breath. I'll make us some tea.'

He whipped out his wand and within moments they were sat across from each other enjoying tea and biscuits.

'So, Harry, can you tell me, without getting all worked up about it, exactly what Severus did teach you about Occlumency?'

'Not a lot,' Harry said shortly, then sighed at the disappointed look in the werewolf's eyes. None of it was Lupins fault, it wasn't really fair to be taking it out on him.

'Sorry. It's just, it's like I said in Dumbledore's office – I'd go, he'd tell me to defend myself and then he'd break into my mind, again and again. And then he'd call me pathetic and tell me Voldemort's a very powerful Legilimens and I'd never be able to stop him getting inside my head. That's really about it. That's all he taught me.'

Lupin sighed. 'Not exactly the way I would have gone about it,' he allowed. 'No matter. I always found you to be a very able pupil Harry and if I could teach you the Patronus Charm at 13 I don't doubt I'll be able to teach you Occlumency now. Let's start with what you do know.'

Harry explained what he'd tried to do over the summer, clearing his mind with the help of the muggle books, and that he'd read Magics of the Mind (and had Hermione explain some of it) and he'd also read the section in his Wandless Magic book that talked about fogging the mind.

'But I still don't know how to actually do it.'

'Well let's see if I can make things a little clearer for you. A Legilimens can attack, essentially, one of two ways. They can sneak inside your mind gently and then ease your thought to a particular path or they can break in and force your thoughts from you.'

Harry nodded, he'd experienced both of those.

'Fogging the mind is the quickest trick to foiling a Legilimens. When you feel someone inside your head, or suspect someone is about to try and get inside, you immediately imagine a thick white fog, lying over your mind. In this way the Legilimens is unable to see the thoughts through the fog.

Unfortunately, any Legilimens is going to know, the minute they see that fog, that you know they are there. If they're powerful enough they will simply force their way through the fog.

A better way is to concentrate exceptionally hard on something else, something they would expect to be inside your head. Quidditch, food, school, girls, anything. These thoughts then form a similar barrier to the fog but they are much less conspicuous and most people find them easier to concentrate on.

A good Legilimens would then try to lead your thoughts onto something similar and then to where they wanted. Say you were thinking about food. They might direct your thoughts towards a meal in the Great Hall. It's still a food memory so you don't suspect. In the memory you look up at the High Table, again perfectly natural. You are then led into thinking about the last time you ate with the teachers in a different setting, which would be your birthday say.

And suddenly the Legilimens can see who was there and what was discussed. They might influence you to think more closely about certain things that were said or other discussions on the same subject.

They might have you wonder about a particular person, where they are now, what they've been told to do. Because it's a logical train of thought you might not realise you've been led astray, you might just think your mind has wandered.

That's why, with this method, you need to concentrate so hard.'

'I read about building walls…'

'Ah yes, another one of the simpler methods is to build a wall, or barrier to keep the Legilimens from reaching your thoughts in the first place. It works the same way as the fog, you imagine a thick wall between your thoughts and anyone trying to get to them. Some people build them of stone, others glass, and at least one of rubber.'

'Glass? But, wouldn't that be pretty easy to break?'

'Real glass, yes. But this was just the thought of glass. I think that particular Occlumens believed that a Legilimens would just slide off, like water on a windowpane. With practice these walls can be held up long term or erected at a moments notice.

If someone is trying to sneak into your mind then this method would prevent them, since destroying the barrier would alert you to their presence. But if someone were trying to force their way in…'

'Then they'd be able to break it down.'

'If they were strong enough, yes. And Severus was correct in saying that the Dark Lord is an exceptionally strong Legilimens. But these methods would foil a weaker one.'

'Alright so how do I stop Voldemort from reading my mind?'

'By making sure he can't find it.'

Harry looked at him blankly.

'Did your book ever mention something called a Liars Palace?'

Harry nodded slowly. 'Yeah, it said, during the war with Grindelwald a number of Aurors, trained in the use of a Liars Palace, were able to infiltrate the enemy. It sounded like they hid who they were under someone else?'

'Exactly. That is the highest skill of any Occlumens, being able to hide your own thoughts and feelings so deep inside layers of other thoughts and feelings that even the most accomplished Legilimens would only be able to see what you wanted them to see.

Those Aurors during the war submerged who they really were under feelings of deep seated hatred towards the Ministry, memories of practicing the Dark Arts and thought of punishing the Muggles. But it had to be very, very thorough. A lifetime's thoughts, feelings and memories, all seamlessly woven, and your true self locked away where it couldn't be found.

More than one of them went mad – lost their true selves, thought they really were who they were pretending to be, though the Healers managed to bring most of them back. And they had to be trained individually, because even the slightest mistake in building their Liars Palace and they could be found out. And if they were then the Ministry couldn't allow them to bring others down with them.

But done correctly and they were able to gain Grindelwald's trust, rise through the ranks, spread false information and spy on the Dark sides plans without them even realising that there was a traitor amongst them.

'Wow,' said Harry, impressed. 'Is that what we're going to be doing?'

'Not quite,' Lupin laughed. 'It would take years before you'd be ready for that! No, we'll be doing a slightly scaled back version known as a Safe Space.'

Harry blinked. Maybe the Muggle books weren't as far off as he'd thought.

'Now, the Safe Space has to be somewhere you know very well, a place you have a deep connection too, as well as one that feels safe. You would then hide your thoughts in various places within the safe space so that while someone may be able to get in they won't be able to find what they are looking for. You're looking a bit confused Harry, am I going too fast for you?'

Harry looked up. 'I sort of get it, but I wish Hermione was here!'

Lupin laughed. 'Alright, I'll give you an example, try and simplify it a bit. If I was asking Hermione to build a safe space –'

'She'd probably know exactly what you were talking about.'

'And quote a half dozen books on the subject,' the teacher agreed, and they shared a grin. 'No, what I was about to say was if Hermione had to choose a place she feels safe and that she knows intimately, then she might choose the Library. If it was, then she would be able to file her thoughts like books.'

'But wouldn't that be a bit obvious? If someone went looking?'

'No, because it is a place that Hermione knows far more about than you or I, and because her filing system would be unique to her. If your head was the library where would information on the Order go?'

'The Restricted Section,' Harry said promptly.

'But you've been able to sneak into the Restricted Section haven't you?'

'How did you know about that?'

'Harry, I spent seven years here in the company of your father and Sirius, did you really think we ignored all the fascinating possibilities of books they were keeping locked up?'

'I didn't really get very far,' Harry confessed. 'A book screamed at me.'

'You're lucky. One swallowed Sirius.'

'Swallowed Sirius?'

'Yes, it took us nearly a week to figure out how to make it cough him back up again and by that time Madam Pince had found him. I think he had detention with her for a month but we're getting off track here. The point is that most people, looking for sensitive information like that would automatically assume it would be in the Restricted Section.'

'Well where else would it be?'

'What about the drawers on Madam Pinces desk? Or the filing cabinet in her office?'

Harry hadn't even known there was a filing cabinet in her office.

'And of course the Library has its own protections. Anyone sneaking inside this Mind Library could be confronted by Mrs Norris, Filch, Madame Pince, all layers of defense between the Legilimens and the information.

It takes a great deal of work to build a Safe Space but once it's up it's a lot more automatic than the other defences because your mind expects the protections to be there. Who imagines the library without Madame Pince? You expect her to be there and so you don't have to concentrate on her protecting your thoughts in the same way you would a wall. Does that make sense?'

'Yeah, that makes a lot more sense.'

'Alright, let's see now, if you were Ron where would your Safe Space be? Remember, it must be somewhere he would feel a deep connection to, a place he would know intimately.'

'The Burrow?'

'Very likely. So where would you hide information on the Order now?'

Harry thought for a moment. 'The Twins room.'

'And why is that?'

'Well, its probably the safest place in the house – I mean, you can't move in there without setting off an explosion or something.'

'So their room would have the most natural protections?'

'Yeah. Yeah it would.'

'Any other reasons?'

'Well they are in the Order.'

'So it makes a logical sense to you for the information to be there?'

'Yeah.'

'Very good Harry. Your thoughts must be put away but it must be somewhere that makes sense to you otherwise they won't stay there.

If you tried, say, hiding them under the cat, then they would be harder to keep there because you would have to keep reminding yourself that that's where you put them. They would seem out of place and a trained Legilimens would spot that fact.

Now, what automatic protections would the Burrow have?'

'Mrs Weasley!'

Lupin chuckled. 'And a very formidable protection she would be. Anything else?'

'Well I know there are wards…'

'Very good. And because you know that the wards are designed to keep things away from the Burrow they would act as barriers to get through before even reaching the Burrow.'

'Like the fog again?'

'Exactly. Now the thing is, because a Safe Space is built on our own personal thoughts and associations they are very individual. For example, you chose the Twins room to hide sensitive information. Ron himself might imagine the Burrow when Bill and Charlie were still living there and instead hide it in Bills room, because he remembers when he used to practice his cursebreaking on the furniture in there.'

'Did he really?'

'According to Molly he used to curse things just so he could practice breaking the curses on them. She made him limit his activities to the bedroom after she was attacked by a rather vicious rug.'

'And Bill's an Order member too.'

'So again it would make sense. Or there might be other reasons behind choosing the hiding place. It might be a particular corner of the shed because that's where Arthur hides all his muggle machinery so Molly doesn't find it. It could even be an old hiding place of Ron's, say an old tree stump in the garden, because even the Twins never found what he hid in there.

Those places might make sense because of the need to hide what he knows about the Order from his mother, or because it's his biggest secret and they always used to go in the stump. And those are just a few of the possibilities. So you see, even if the Legilimens knows you, even if they're actually familiar with the Safe Space it's still very difficult for them to find what they're looking for.

Let's try it one more time. Still Ron, where would you hide your feelings on the Ministry?'

'Percy's room.'

'So supposing a Legilimens had managed to get past the wards, and Mrs Weasley, and has figured out that as you dislike both the Ministry and Percy, who works there, that Percy's room is where the information is likely to be. Suppose that they are even familiar with the Burrow and head straight for Percy's room. What then?'

'What do you mean?'

'They've reached Percy's room but where exactly do they look then? There's a room full of items, each with their own significance or no significance at all. The information isn't just lying around in the open. Is it in his trunk?'

'No.'

'Why not?'

'Well, his trunk would just make me think about Hogwarts.'

'What about in the wardrobe?'

'Just makes me think of his stupid suits.'

'Under the bed?'

'I can't think of anything linked to under Percy's bed. I don't think I'd want to either.'

'So where is it? Where would you, personally, hide the information?'

Harry thought for a long moment before it came to him.

'There's a little pot, on the drawers beside his bed. He used to keep his Prefects Badge in there. That's where I'd hide it.'

'And why is that?'

'Because he was a jumped up, self-important little git in school and he's a jumped up, self-important little git in the Ministry.'

'Bravo Harry. And would anyone else, seeing that pot, automatically associate it with the Ministry?'

'Well, no, I mean, it's just a Prefect Badge.'

'And what would a Hogwarts school badge have to do with how you feel about the Ministry as a whole. The association is yours and yours alone. That's what I meant by how individual a Safe Space must be. And I hope you realised how many layers there were before you ever got to the information.'

'Um, the wards, Mrs Weasley, finding the right room, finding the right object…'

'And then finding the actual information, which even then you would have to sift through. And that's only if they know you well enough to guess. A Legilimens who doesn't know you that well might end up having to search the entire Burrow. You can see why it would take a lot of work.'

'So wherever I chose for a Safe Space I'd have to fill it with all the furniture and bits and pieces and then, I dunno, tie my thought to the stuff?

'That's it yes.'

'You weren't kidding when you said it was going to be a lot of work.'

Lupin smiled. 'No I wasn't, But Harry, this is necessary – we can't afford to leave the Dark Lord with uncontrolled access to your mind.'

'I know, I know. So what'll my Safe Space be?'

'That, Harry, is up to you. I think we've done enough for today – it appears I've taken up most of your free time as it is. I want you to consider what your Safe Space should be, what its natural defences are and where you might hide things in it. We'll discuss it next time.'

'When'll that be?'

The werewolf stood up and stretched. 'I'm afraid I'm not exactly sure. My life has become a little more hectic than I'm used to just recently. I'll try to make it soon.'

'Alright. See you later Remus.'

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Harry looked at his watch and decided to just head straight for the Great Hall. They'd be serving up shortly anyway and it was easier than trying to track Ron or Hermione down. The Hall was already starting to fill up as he arrived so he made his way over to the Gryffindor table and sat down, thinking about Occlumency.

It was strange to think that he was actually looking forward to his next lesson. He'd spent a year hating even the thought of Occlumency butt Remus made it all sound so interesting that he was actually looking forward to getting started.

He snorted, funny how removing Professor Snape made things so much better.

His amusement faded as he thought about that a bit further. Out of the two Legilimens why hadn't Dumbledore asked Remus from the start? What had possessed the Headmaster to pass over a teacher he liked and respected and send him to one who hated his guts? Why? If they'd only gone to Remus sooner then maybe Sirius would still be alive.

Something suddenly jumped on his feet and he peered under the tablecloth to see Orion tangled up in his shoelaces. The puppy wagged his tail enthusiastically and stuck a damp nose up his trouser leg. Harry had to laugh.

Ron dumped an armload of books on the table and dropped into the seat beside Harry.

'I don't know how you carry all those things Hermione, I really don't.'

Hermione rolled her eyes as she took her seat. 'How did it go Harry?' she asked anxiously.

'Really good,' he said. 'I'll tell you later. How was Arithmancy?'

Hermione didn't need much prompting to rhapsodise about her lesson and Harry listened with half an ear as he ate and flicked peas across the table at Ron. He started to describe Remus' lesson as they headed towards the Common Room.

'Wicked,' said Ron as he finished explaining.

'It does sound like you're taking it a lot more seriously,' Hermione said approvingly. 'Are you still doing your mind-clearing exercises?'

'Yes Hermione.'

'Well good. I hope you're going to keep up with it this time Harry – it's not all going to be easy you know.'

'I know, Hermione, I'm not thick! I know how important this is.'

She patted his arm. 'I know you do. And I'm glad it's going better for you, it's just, it's going to be a lot of work. Have you thought about what your Safe Space should be?'

They sat in front of the fire in the Common Room discussing it for what seemed like hours. Ron was quite keen on the idea of a Quidditch Pitch while Hermione thought that if it was somewhere Muggle it would confuse any wizard looking through his mind.

Harry reminded her that Voldemort had been brought up in a Muggle orphanage. She sniffed. 'It's very different now, technology's moved on a lot since then – I mean, they didn't even have microwaves.'

'What's a microwave?'

'Not now Ron.'

All the same, the feeling was growing in Harry that there was only one place he could pick. He couldn't imagine anywhere he'd spent time with the Dursleys as a Safe Space, and while he had felt safe at the Burrow he'd only ever been there as a guest, he didn't have the same connection to it that Ron had.

Grimmauld Place wasn't even an option and where else had he even spent any great deal of time? The more he thought about it the more sense it made. What place was more familiar to him? What other place had more protection? No where. It had to be Hogwarts.

As he lay in bed, his mind kept turning over the possibilities. With the castle as his safe space there would be no end of hiding places for his thoughts, any Legilimnes would have their work cut out searching through it for specific information. It could be anywhere – at the bottom of the lake, in an empty classroom, in a secret passage or on the top of a tower – where would you even start to look?

And the protections! The wards, the teachers, the ghosts, the headmaster, Mrs Norris, Filch, Snape even! You wouldn't be able to creep around a mind dungeon without a mind Snape showing up. The thought appealed to Harry, that Snapes irritating ability to show up the moment you even thought about getting up to something would actually come in useful inside his head.

He snorted. It was about the only useful thing Snape had done so far as Occlumency was concerned.

He tossed the blankets back, startling Orion who was laid across the foot of the bed, and causing Ron to snort in his sleep. For a moment he considered waking him up but decided that right now he wanted to be alone, to think.

He glanced at the door to the dormitory and in moments was covered by the invisibility cloak and on his way out of Gryffindor Tower, Orion at his heels.

Harry had always enjoyed the castle at night when it was dark and peaceful. Orion was surprisingly good company, happy to trot alongside him down twisting corridors and up flights of stairs. He found himself talking to the Grim puppy as they wandered, treating him to a guided tour of the areas they passed and his thoughts on their potential as Occlumency aids.

It was oddly relaxing, to walk through the silent school so late, no particular destination in mind. The only moment of excitement came when he had to grab Orion's collar to stop him chasing Mrs Norris down a 6th floor corridor. Eventually they found themselves outside the entrance to the Room of Requirement.

The trolls in the picture of Barnabus the Barmy were fast asleep against the ballet bar, cuddling their clubs like knobbly teddy bears. Barnabus the Barmy himself was either asleep or unconscious on the floor of the painting so there was no one to notice as Harry and Orion passed by the blank bit of wall opposite.

'You'll probably end up in here quite a lot since we're starting the DA up again,' Harry told him.

The puppy looked at the wall and then back at the blank spot where an invisible Harry was standing. He had to wonder if Orion knew where he was through scent or something or if the pup could actually see through the cloak, since it certainly seemed as if Orion was looking at him. He resolved to investigate it further the next time he had the chance.

They walked past the wall again. 'You just have to concentrate on what you need and the room will appear. I don't know if it work for you – next time you're hungry you could try walking past and seeing if a doggie-door appears.' He laughed. 'And now I know I need some sleep, my sense of humour's getting weirder.'

He turned to head back to the dormitory but as they passed the wall for the third time a brass handle appeared, followed by a wooden door. They paused.

'I wasn't thinking of anything – were you?'

Orion didn't answer, busy sniffing at the door.

'Well, I guess we might as well see what's inside.'

Orion wagged his tail happily and Harry reached out to turn the handle, then they stepped inside.

It looked like a deserted classroom, with the dark shapes of desks and chairs pushed haphazardly against the walls but there was something familiar about it. Harry felt the hair on the back of his neck prickle as they stepped forward, footsteps echoing on the flagstone flooring.

High on the wall to his left was a small window which was letting in the moonlight to fall on a shrouded shape near the back of the room.

Harry paused in front of the shape, which was nearly as high as the ceiling and again felt that prickle of recognition. Taking a deep breath he reached for the heavy fabric and pulled.

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

As I said at the end of the last chapter this is the end of the first week, where I concentrated on the new lessons and things. It's next chapter when things are really going to get going.

Next chapter should see a whole lot more action and much more from Zabini who really starts playing a part from here on in.

If you're wondering exactly what Harry's standing in front of you'll find that out then too, though if you re-read the books you should find a very similar description of a place which will give you a very big hint on what it is.

I've already started writing the next chapter so it all depends on how quickly I can squeeze everything in and how fast I can get it typed up. You're only getting this chapter now because I've been off work and so able to get to the library more often.

Anyway, many thanks to those who've read and those who've reviewed – I'm glad everyone likes my Grims and the Trelawney scene and the new lessons. You've all been marvellous! See you all next time.

Unclear Destiny – much, much more Blaise, I promise. And I'll see what I can do about Will, wouldn't want to disappoint a fangirl!

Zarz – glad you liked the Grims. Thanks for reminding me about the book, yes it will have a part to play.

Jamie46 – thank you! Sometimes I have to zoom through them myself but hopefully the next chapter'll be up quick enough you won't have to. Glad I could make you laugh.

Kittydemon18 – next chapter, there should be a confrontation coming up and that's when Harry's going to start taking command.

The Forgotten Elves – oops. One of these days I'm going to go through and beta this thing thoroughly. If you spot any major errors though please point them out!

Frequency Queen – you'll find out next chapter! Blaise is planning to ask him about it.