The Next Occlumency Lesson

Disclaimer: I don't own HP.

The next week Snape told Kitty after Potions class that their next Occlumency lesson would take place that evening.

'But, Professor,' said Kitty, 'There's a Quidditch match this evening.'

Snape nodded. 'I know,' he said, 'That's why I've scheduled it such that the students and Professor Umbridge will be at the grounds. I can't very well say that I'm giving you Remedial Potions, since you are best in your year in Potions. And we've used the excuse of a detention once.'

'But, sir,' said Kitty, 'Won't anyone notice if you're not there at the match?

'I've told Professor Umbridge that I will be brewing Veritserum for her this evening,' said Snape, 'She can't complain.'

That evening, while the rest of the students went to the grounds to watch the Quidditch match, Kitty slunk away from the crowd and went to Snape's office.

'Come in,' he said, after she knocked. Kitty entered.

She noticed this time that Snape had not put some of his thoughts away in the pensieve. Still feeling guilty about their last Occlumency lesson, she took out her wand and faced Snape.

'On the count of three,' said Snape pointing his wand at her, 'One, two, three—Legilimens!'

She was talking to Sirius through Umbridge's fire…Lord Voldemort was torturing her while she screamed…a sudden blackness was enshrouding her…she was looking at Cedric's dead body…darkness again enveloped her, as an emptiness filled her mind…

'Good,' said Snape, nodding approvingly, 'You did try, however, you have not completely mastered it. I see flashes of your thoughts followed by flashes of blackness. You are progressing. Let's try again.

'Legilimens!'

She was writhing on the floor of the graveyard while Voldemort's Death Eaters leered at her… She was surrounded again by blackness…

Then, all of a sudden, there was a blinding flash of light and her mind filled with memories that were not her own.

A small boy was cowering in a corner while a man was yelling at a woman…a young Snape was sitting on the banks of a lake with a girl that looked a lot like Kitty…an adult Snape was facing Voldemort…a small dark-red haired baby with green eyes was rocking in Snape's arms…

'Stop!'

'How did I do that?' asked Kitty.

'You managed to repel me completely and access some of my memories in turn,' said Snape.

'Sir,' said Kitty, 'Who…who was that?'

'Who?' said Snape, turning away from her.

'That baby,' said Kitty.

Snape took a deep breath. 'That was you, Kitty.'

Kitty fell silent.

'I suppose you don't know how you survived that night your parents died?' said Snape, turning to her once more.

Kitty shook her head and said, 'No one ever told me, but I guessed that Voldemort tried killing Harry first and then the curse backfired. So, Voldemort never really got a chance to kill me.'

'Well,' said Snape, 'It did not happen so. You see, hours before…before your parents died, Lily, your mother she came to me and left you at my home. She felt sorry that James did not want me to be godfather, so she left you with me for a few hours, meaning to pick up up that evening. But then, she…never…I mean they died.'

Snape paused for a few seconds.

'What happened then? How come I grew up at the Dursleys? How come I didn't grow up at Remus'?' said Kitty.

Snape sighed. 'Your brother's godfather was arrested a few days later, on the charge of the murder of Pettigrew. As such your brother could not be sent to live with his godfather. Professor Dumbledore also wanted Harry, for er…specific reasons, to stay at your relatives' house. Lupin would have been quite pleased to take you, but both he and Professor Dumbledore agreed that you and Harry should not be separated. So, I believe, it was Hagrid who took your brother to you Aunt and Uncle's house. The very next day, I took you there too.'

'You met Aunt Petunia?' said Kitty disbelievingly.

'Yes I did. I can show you the memory if you like,' said Snape.

Kitty nodded eagerly.

Snape pressed his wand tip to his forehead and drew out a silvery strand from his head. He strode three paces across the room and dropped the memory into the empty pensieve. Kitty took a deep breath and plunged her head in.

She was standing in a small room, which was dimly lit. A second later, Snape joined her. She turned around. Three people were sitting in the room: a much younger Snape, her godfather, Remus and Albus Dumbledore, who looked as old as ever. Snape was holding a moving bundle in his arms.

Kitty moved forward to peer at the baby's face. It looked only a few weeks old. It had a tuft of dark red hair, just like her mother's, a small slightly upturned nose and big emerald green eyes. Kitty looked at herself and grinned.

Then she noticed that Snape, the Snape in the memory had tears running down his cheeks. Kitty looked at the present day Snape, who stiffened visibly.

'I'd be happy to take her in,' Remus was saying.

'I've told you already why we must send both Harry and Kitty to their Aunt and Uncle's house. We mustn't separate them. Harry has been already sent last night. Kitty will have to also go today,' said Dumbledore, turning his blue eyes towards the bundle in Snape's arms.

'I'll take her,' said Snape, 'Do I have to take take her now?'

'I'm afraid so,' said Dumbledore, with a hand on Snape's shoulder.

Snape got up. So did Remus and Dumbledore.

'I'll go with them,' said Remus.

'Forgive me, Remus,' said Dumbledore, 'But, I think I need you for another business.'

'Right, then,' said Remus, 'Right then, I'll just say goodbye to Kitty.'

He took the bundle from Snape's arms and planted a kiss on top of the baby's forehead. 'Goodbye, Kitty,' he murmured softly as he held out the bundle to Snape. Snape took it from Remus without a word, and apparated.

The same feeling of being squeezed through a rubber tube overcame Kitty once more. When she opened her eyes, she found herself standing in Private Drive, along with the present day Snape. She saw the other Snape a little distance ahead, and followed him to Number Four, Private Drive.

Snape rang the doorbell twice and they waited outside. A few moments later, a much younger Aunt Petunia opened the door.

'You!' she hissed.

'Me,' said Snape calmly, 'We meet once again, Petunia. I have come here to leave Lily's daughter at your house. I believe Dumbledore has explained everything to you?'

Aunt Petunia nodded curtly.

'Well, then, I might simply want to add that if I get any hint that you are abusing any of these children, or starving them, I will curse you into oblivion,' said Snape calmly. Aunt Petunia looked at him with a mixture of fear and dislike.

'Goodbye Kitty,' whispered Snape as he handed the baby in her Aunt's arms.

A second later, Kitty felt herself rising in the air, and with a swooping sensation she found herself standing in the Snape's office. She looked at Snape, who was placing the memory back in his head.

'Professor,' said Kitty, 'You've met Aunt Petunia before?

'Yes,' said Snape, 'Your mother and I were next door neighbours. That's how I knew Lily. I knew Petunia too, only I didn't like her much.'

'Understandable,' muttered Kitty.

'Anyway, Kitty,' said Snape, 'I think we should pay more attention to Occlumency now. Let's try once more, and then you're free to go.'

'Legilimens!'

Kitty was talking to Malfoy through a mirror…blackness again surrounded her, as she succeeded in emptying her mind of all emotion…

'That was excellent,' said Snape, 'You've got the hang of it, I think. Maybe another lesson, and you'll be perfect.'

Kitty nodded.

'Listen, Kitty,' said Snape, 'How do you…I mean are you friends with Draco Malfoy?'

'Er, sort of,' said Kitty hesitantly, 'I mean we sort of started talking at a detention we both got, and I um, I realized he wasn't that bad, if you know what I mean.'

'And did he tell you something about the Dark Lord?' said Snape shrewdly.

Kitty didn't know what to say.

'He…' she hesitated.

'You can trust me,' said Snape, 'I won't tell anyone.'

'Well,' continued Kitty, somewhat reassured, 'He told me that he was going to become a spy for Dumbledore.'

Snape did not answer at once.

'I see,' said Snape at last, 'You may go now, Kitty. And I'm glad you made friends with Draco. He's needs a friend like you.'

Kitty wondered what Snape meant as she walked out of his office. On the way back to the Ravenclaw Tower, she met Harry.

'Did Ravenclaw win?' she asked eagerly.

'No,' he said, 'But that's not important. Listen, Hagrid has got a giant hidden in the Forbidden Forest and he wants me and Hermione to teach it English.'

'Where'd you read that one, The Quibbler?' asked Kitty, raising her eyebrows.

'No, I'm serious,' said Harry, 'That's why he's injured. You've seen him. I told you remember that he went to look for giants? He brought one back. Apparently the centaurs are not happy. We barely got away, the centaurs were about to attack us.'

Kitty stared at him. 'But I mean, how can that be? How did he just get a giant into England without anyone noticing?'

Harry shrugged.

'And,' he continued, 'Your friend, Dennis is in the Hospital Wing. A bludger attacked him after the match was over.'

'What?' said Kitty, 'But why did the Bludger attack him? It's only supposed to knock people off their brooms, not attack the spectators.'

'Come on,' said Harry, 'We're going to the Hospital Wing. Luna and Vandyll are there too.'

Kitty followed Harry to the Hospital Wing, telling him on the way everything Snape had told her in the Occlumency class.