A/N) Well, I've planned up to chapter 51 now, and the next chapter is already written, with 45 being worked on as soon as this chapter is posted. Hopefully this chapter isn't too repetitive as it does include some dialogue from Order of the Phoenix. Thank you to everyone who has supported me so far. :)

Enjoy!

Chapter Forty-Three: Occlumency

Monday 6th September 1995

The first few days of class flew by like lightening and before Harry knew it, it was Monday evening and he was walking down towards Snape's office, his heart heavy in his chest. He paused outside the door wishing that he was somewhere else, but instead he took a deep breath, he knocked and then entered the dark and shadowy office. The room was lined with shelves bearing hundreds of glass jars in which slimy bits of animals and plants were suspended in various coloured potions.

Standing behind his desk was Professor Snape, his arms held behind his back. On top of Snape's desk was a shallow stone basin engraved with runes and symbols.

"Shut the door behind you, Potter, and then sit down," ordered Snape. He did not sound pleased to see Harry. Snape's cold black eyes fixed upon Harry, dislike etched in every line of his face. "You know why you are here, Potter. The Headmaster has asked me to teach you Occlumency. I can only hope that you prove more adept at it than at Potions."

Harry did not reply, understanding that the Professor was baiting him.

"This is not an ordinary class, Potter, but I am still your teacher and you will thereforce call me'sir' or 'professor' at all times."

"Yes... sir," said Harry.

"Now, Occlumency is an obscure branch of magic that seals the mind against magical intrusion and influence. The Headmaster believes that you need to learn to shield your mind."

Liar, thought Harry, remembering the Order meeting that he had listened in on. It had been Snape that had suggested this. "Why does Professor Dumbledore think I need it, sir?" he asked instead.

Snape scowled at Harry. "The Dark Lord is highly skilled at Legilimency –"

"What's that, sir?" He could see Snape's eyes flash in irritation. Obviously he thought Sirius would have explained all of this to him. He only knew the bare basics of it and that Voldemort had an easy access into his mind because of his scar.

"It is the ability to extract feelings and memories from another person's mind and, he can, if he wants to, plant false images into your head."

Harry swallowed, his fear rapidly rising. "But wouldn't you have to be looking at him to allow him to read my mind? The only time I'd be doing that would be if I faced him again."

Snape narrowed his eyes. "In most cases, yes, but you are unusual. The mind is not a book to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls, to be perused by an invader. The mind is a complex and many-layered thing, Potter – or at least, most minds are."

Harry scowled but he pushed his anger aside. He wanted to learn Occlumency quickly so that he could get out of Snape's way.

"Those who have mastered Legilimency are able, under certain conditions, to delve into the minds of their victims and to interpret their findings correctly. The Dark Lord, for instance, almost always knows when somebody is lying to him. Only those skilled at Occlumency are able to shut down those feelings and memories that contradict the lie, and so can utter falsehoods in his presence without detection."

"So he could know what I'm thinking right now, sir?" asked Harry, uncomfortably.

"The Dark Lord is at a considerable distance and the walls and grounds of Hogwarts are guarded by many ancient spells and charms to ensure the bodily and mental safety of those who dwell within them. Eye contact is essential to Legilimency, however the usual rules do not seem to apply with you, Potter. The curse that failed to kill you seems to have forged some kind of connection between you and the Dark Lord. I was informed you had visions last year of the Dark Lord's plans?"

Harry bit his lip. "Yes sir."

"For someone who has not mastered the art of Legilimancy, you should be unable to do this, however evidence points to your scar being the source of the connection which allows you to see these things. The Dark Lord now knows of this connection and is seeking to exploit it against you and to acquire knowledge from you that he is unable to get himself at present. To prevent this, learning the art of Occlumency is essential. You need to learn to close your mind to the Dark Lord so that is unable to access your mind and you, his."

"But why does Professor Dumbledore want this to stop? Surely if I have advance warning against any plans, the Order and the Aurors can counteract them?" said Harry, reasonably.

"It is not as simple as that, Potter. Your unusual connection with the Dark Lord also means he can plant false images in your head."

"And why would he do that, sir?"

Snape's lips curled. "Tell me, Potter, what would you do if you saw your precious godfather being tortured by the Dark Lord in a place that you recognised?"

Harry swallowed. "I'd go and save him."

"And that is what we must avoid because he could plant a false image of that in your head and you would rush off to save him, when really you'd be walking into a trap."

"But I wouldn't rush off, sir, I'd go and check," explained Harry. Well, at least he thought he would.

"And if you couldn't find him and Black was distracted? You'd assume the vision would be true and rush off. It is essential that you do not do anything stupid this year. And the Dark Lord knows how much Black means to you and he will resort to that tactic. You also hold sensitive information in your head... so far the Dark Lord has not been able to extract this... but that doesn't mean to say he won't. Therefore it is imperative that you learn this skill as quickly and efficiently as possible." Snape fell silent and turned away from Harry, signalling the end of the discussion. From his robes he pulled out his wand and pointed it at his temple, placing the tip into the greasy roots of his hair.

Harry watched with fascination as a silvery substance came away, stretching from the Professor's temple to the wand, and then broke as it drew closer to the stone basin. It fell gracefully into it. Twice more, Snape raised the wand to his temple and deposited the silvery substance into the pot and then, without explaining what he had done, he picked up the basin carefully, removing it to shelf out of their way. He returned to face Harry, his wand held at the ready.

"Stand up and take out your wand, Potter."

Harry got to his feet, pulling his wand out of his pocket. The desk was between them, but Harry couldn't stop the ominous feeling that had risen in his stomach when he had stood.

"You may use your wand to attempt to disarm me, or defend yourself in any other way you can think of," instructed Snape, coolly.

"What are you going to do?" asked Harry, eyeing Snape's wand with apprehension.

"I am about to attempt to break into your mind," the Potion's Master replied. "We are going to see how well you resist. Brace yourself, now. Legilimens!"

Harry hadn't had any time to prepare before he was struck. He felt his vision swim and the office vanished from his eyesight; instead image after image was racing through his mind like a flickering film. He was five, watching Dudley ride a new red bicycle, and his heart was bursting with jealousy... he was nine, and Ripper the bulldog was chasing him up a tree and the Dursleys were laughing below on the lawn... he was sitting under the Sorting Hat, and it was telling him he would do well in Slytherin... Hermione was lying in the hospital wing, her face covered with thick black hair... Peter Pettigrew begging Harry for mercy in the Shrieking Shack... Arriving at Godric's Hollow for the first time... The portrait of his parent's wedding day that hung at Godric's Hollow...

No, thought Harry. That's private! You can't see that! You can't!

And he felt a sharp pain his knee. His vision whirled and the office came back into focus and Harry found himself lying on the floor of Snape's office. His right knee had collided painfully with the leg of Snape's desk. He looked up at Snape, who had lowered his wand and was rubbing his wrist. There was an angry weal there, like a scorch mark.

"Did you mean to produce a Stinging Hex?" asked Snape coolly.

"No," breathed Harry, as he got to his feet.

"I thought not," mused Snape, watching him closely. "You let me get in too far. You lost control."

"Did you see everything I saw?" asked Harry, dreading the answer.

"Flashes of it... To whom did the dog belong?"

"My Aunt Marge," muttered Harry, lowering his gaze to the floor.

Snape brushed his robes, raising his wand once more. "For a first attempt that was not as poor as it might have been. You managed to stop me eventually, but you must remain focused, Potter! Repel me with your brain and you will not need to resort to your wand."

"But how do I do that, sir?" asked Harry angrily.

"Close your eyes, Potter," instructed Snape. He did not speak again until Harry had done so. "Clear your mind, let go of all emotion..."

Harry took a deep calming breath. If he didn't learn this he wouldn't be able to start his lessons with Dumbledore. He thought of nothing, keeping his mind calm and clear... to not think, or remember, or feel... He did not even think about thinking...

"Focus... On the count of three... one – two – three – Legilimens!" Snape's voice came from very far away.

And nothing happened. No memories washed to the surface. Startled by this, Harry lost concentration and memories stared to fly through his mind, but an inner voice yelled 'No! You're not seeing the truth!' Almost instantly the memories changed to images he had never seen...things that had never happened... it was as if his own mind was making up stuff that had never happened to him... He saw himself smiling and laughing with the Dursleys... He saw his Aunt Petunia give him a ten pound note to spend... And then the pressure abruptly ended.

"Very good, Potter," said Snape. "Tell me, were those memories true?"

"No sir," replied Harry. How had he managed to do that?

Snape was frowning. "That is interesting... Usually successfully employment of Occlumency allows the Legillimens to see what they want to be seen as truth depending on who they are reading. For example if the Dark Lord wanted to know whether one of his followers were loyal to him but suspected them of treason, as long as your mind was clear, he would see what he wanted to see... loyalty... but your mind crafts false images that come across as truth. It's your defence mechanism, Potter. Use it. To employ that in front of the Dark Lord – if he ever tries to use this on you in person – you must actively think about what he wants to see while keeping your mind clear and calm."

"How do I think while trying to keep it clear?" asked Harry, now feeling thoroughly confused. He ran a hand through his messy hair, his brain thumping inside his skull.

"That will be a lesson to learn next time. I want you back here, at the same time, on Wednesday. We will continue work then. You are to rid your mind of all emotion every night before sleep; empty it, make it blank and calm, do you understand?"

"Yes," said Harry, wondering why Snape could not answer his question. Perhaps he doesn't know the answer yet...

As Harry turned away from the Potion's Master, picking up his back as he did so, he heard the Professor say: "Be warned, Potter, I shall know if you have not practiced."

Harry did not look back as he left the office. As soon as he stepped out into the corridor he made a break for the Owlery where he intended to send a letter to Sirius explaining everything that he had just learnt. Perhaps his godfather could shed some light on how he could think while keeping his mind clear?

To be continued...

Please let me know what you think!

A/N) I decided that Harry would be good at Occlumency, simply because I feel he isn't under so much pressure then he was in the original narrative. He is clued in and no one is keeping secrets from him. He doesn't really have anything to worry about. So, I hope that explanation makes sense.

Next chapter: Attacks and Answers - coming soon.

the-writer1988