Occlumency
It seemed that Kreacher had been lurking in the attic.
Sirius had found him up there, covered in dust, most likely looking for more relics of the Black family to hide in his cupboard.
Whilst Sirius was satisfied with the story, Arthur wasn't, as he instead felt dread. Kreacher was in a much better mood on his reappearance, his bitter muttering had subsided to a degree and had submitted to orders more docilely than normal, though once or twice, Arthur saw him staring at him avidly, but looked away quickly when he saw Arthur noticing.
It was like he did something devious and was delighted.
Arthur didn't mention his suspicions to Sirius, whose cheerfulness soured somewhat with Christmas now being over.
Arthur, though, was able to enjoy his time with Mike, now that they're finally boyfriends. It felt truly incredible to finally have something to be in love with. They'd eat their meals together, cuddle, hold hands and kiss on occasion, which had to be the best part for them.
Though, they did agree that they'll keep their relationship a secret from everyone at Hogwarts, at least for a while and made everyone else promise this as well.
As the date of their departure back to Hogwarts drew nearer, Sirius decided to make the most of his time with everyone, especially Arthur.
Arthur felt bad with the fact that Sirius will be left on his own with Kreacher again for company. And for the first time ever, he didn't look forward to going back to Hogwarts, for various reasons. It would mean he'd have to deal with Umbridge and her tyranny again, who had most likely forced several other decrees in their absence. There's also the burden of their homework, with the exams drawing nearer, and there's the fact that Dumbledore still kept his distance from Arthur.
The only thing that made him tolerate going back was the fact that he still had Quidditch to play and the fact that there were still more DA meetings to partake in.
Then, on the very last day of the holidays, something happened to make Arthur dread going back to Hogwarts even more.
"Arthur." Martha poked her head into the boys' bedroom, where Arthur was playing wizard chess with Mike, being watched by David, Chrys and Crookshanks. "You're needed down in the kitchen. Snape wants a word with you."
Arthur stopped in the middle of the move he was about to make.
"Excuse me?" Arthur spat in disgust.
"Snape wants a word with you in the kitchen." Martha said.
Arthur snarled before he slammed the piece back to where he took it from and stormed out.
He pushed open the kitchen door, finding both Sirius and Snape seated at the long kitchen table, glaring in opposite directions. The silence between them was heavy with mutual dislike. A letter also lay open in front of Snape.
Arthur cleared his throat to make his presence known.
Snape looked at him, his face framed between curtains of his greasy black hair.
"Sit down, Pendergast."
"You know." Sirius said loudly, leaning back on his rear chair legs and speaking to the ceiling. "I think I'd prefer it if you didn't give orders here, Snape. It's my house, you see."
An ugly flush came over Snape's pallid face. Arthur said in a chair beside Sirius, facing Snape across the table.
"I was supposed to see you alone, Pendergast…" Snape said with that familiar sneer curling his mouth. "...but Black -"
"I'm his godfather." Sirius said, louder than ever.
"I am here on Dumbledore's orders…" Snape said, with his voice becoming more quietly waspish in contrast. "...but by all means stay, Black, I know you like to feel… involved."
"And what is that supposed to mean, you immature git?" Sirius asked, making his chair fall back onto all fours with a loud bang.
"Merely that I am sure you must feel - ah - frustrated by the fact that you can do nothing useful…" Snape stressed that last word. "...for the Order."
"And you're only here because Dumbledore gave you a chance, one you don't deserve, after all you've done." Sirius retorted back before he looked away.
Snape's face scrunched up before he turned to Arthur.
"The Headmaster has sent me to tell you, Pendergast, that it is his wish for you to study Occlumency this term."
"And just what is Occlumency?" Arthur asked, glaring at Snape.
Snape's sneer now became more pronounced.
"Occlumency, Pendergast, is the magical defence of the mind against external penetration. An obscure branch of magic, but a highly useful one."
Arthur still glared, wondering what the point of this was, since he isn't being possessed by Voldemort.
"And why should I study it?" He asked.
"Because the Headmaster thinks it a good idea." Snape said smoothly. "You will receive private lessons once a week, but you will not tell anybody what you are doing, least of all Dolores Umbridge. You understand?"
"I do." Arthur said. "And who will be teaching me?"
This made Snape raise an eyebrow.
"I am."
Arthur felt like his insides melted. Having extra lessons with Snape sounded like he entered hell itself.
"Why can't Dumbledore teach Arthur?" Sirius asked aggressively. "Why you?"
"I suppose because it is a Headmaster's privilege to delegate less enjoyable tasks." Snape said silkily. "I assure you I did not beg for the job." He then got to his feet. "I will expect you at six o'clock on Monday evening, Pendergast. My office. If anybody asks, you are taking private Potions lessons."
He then turned to leave, his black travelling cloak billowing behind him.
"Wait a moment." Sirius said, now standing up.
Snape turned back to face them, sneering.
"I am in rather a hurry, Black. Unlike you, I do not have unlimited leisure time."
"Then I'll just get to the point." Sirius said. He was taller than Snape, who had balled his fist in his cloak pocket, clearly holding the handle of his wand. "If I hear that you're just using these Occlumency lessons to give Arthur a hard time, you'll have to answer to me."
"How touching." Snape sneered. "But surely you have noticed that Pendergast is very like his father?"
"Yes, I have." Sirius said proudly.
"Well then, you'll know he's so arrogant that criticism simply bounces off him." Snape said sleekly.
"He is not arrogant. He's smart and talented, you just don't see that because you're blinded by your hatred, Snivellus." Sirius corrected him. "It's why your immature and cheap tactics aren't working on me, because unlike you, I grew up and moved on."
Snape glared at Sirius with pure venom in his eyes.
The kitchen door then opened and the whole Merlon family, Chrys and Mike entered. They looked happy as Ben walked proudly in their midst, dressed in a pair of grey pyjamas.
"I'm finally cured." Ben announced.
He and everyone else froze on the threshold, gazing at the scene in front of them. Both Sirius and Snape looked towards the door and Arthur now stood up.
"Not fighting, are we, Snape?" Ben said coolly, knowing full well what has been going on.
Snape and Sirius looked at each other with the utmost contempt, the former coming to his senses before he swept back across the kitchen, passing the Merlons without comment.
At the door, he looked back at Arthur.
"Six o'clock, Monday evening, Pendergast."
He was then gone.
"What happened?" Ben aske Sirius.
"He tried to get under my skin for the umpteenth time." Sirius replied before he smiled. "And it's about time you're now cured."
"I know." Martha said, leading her husband forward to a chair. "Healer Smethwyck worked his magic. He found the antidote to whatever the snake had in its fangs.
That night's meal should've been cheerful since Ben was back amongst them.
Arthur could tell that his godfather was trying to make it so, but when he wasn't forcing himself to laugh loudly at the twin's jokes or offering everyone more food, his face fell back into a sour expression.
Arthur was separated from him by both Mundungus and Moody, who dropped in to offer Ben their congratulations. He wanted to talk to him, but instead, he told Mike, David and Chrys about under his voice that he had to now partake in Occlumency lessons with Snape.
"Well, Dumbledore wants to stop you from having those dreams about Voldemort." Chrys said. "If only Dumbledore taught you instead of Snape."
"Knowing him, he's gonna use these lessons to torture you." Mike said, holding Arthur's hand.
They were all to return to Hogwarts on the Knight Bus the following day, escorted by both Tonks and Lupin, who ate breakfast in the kitchen when Arthur, Mike, David and Chrys came down the next morning.
They were mid way through a whispered conversation when Arthur opened the door, all looking round hastily and falling silent.
After their hurried breakfast, they all pulled on jackets and scarves against the chilly grey January morning.
Arthur felt his chest constricting as he didn't want to say goodbye to Sirius again. He just had a bad feeling about this parting, he didn't know when they'd see each other again. He was also worried that Sirius' maturity was just a façade and that he just might do something truly reckless.
Before he could think of what to say to Sirius before leaving, Sirius ended up beckoning him to his side.
"I want you to take this." He said quietly, thrusting a badly wrapped package the size of a paperback book into Arthur's hands.
"What is this?" He asked.
"A way to let me know if Snape is giving you a hard time. Don't open it here." Sirius said. "I want you to use it if you need me, okay?"
"Right." Arthur nodded, stowing it away in the inside pocket of his jacket, despite knowing that he may not ever use whatever it was, since Arthur didn't want to lure Sirius from his place of safety, regardless of how torturous Snape's Occlumency lessons will be.
"Let's go." Sirius then said, clapping Arthur's shoulder and smiled grimly.
They all headed upstairs and stopped before the heavily chained and bolted front door, surrounded by Merlons, Chrys and Mike.
"Goodbye, Arthur, take care." Martha said, hugging him.
"See you, Arthur." Ben said, shaking his hand.
"Make sure you look after yourself, Arthur." Sirius then said.
Arthur was then shunned out into the icy wintery air, with Tonks (currently heavily disguised as a tall, tweedy woman with iron grey hair) chivvying him down the steps.
The door of Number Twelve slammed shut behind him and followed Lupin down the front steps. When they reached the pavement, Arthur looked back to see Number Twelve shrinking rapidly as though either side squeezed it out of sight. Then in one blink, it was gone.
"Come on, the quicker we get on the bus, the better." Tonks said, Arthur noticing a nervousness in the glance she threw around the square.
Lupin then flung out his right arm.
BANG
A violently purple, triple decker bus appeared out of thin air, narrowly missing the nearest lamppost, which had jumped backwards out of its way.
A thin, pimply, jug eared youth in a purple uniform leapt down onto the pavement, saying "Welcome to the -"
"Yes, yes, we know, thank you." Tonks said swiftly. "On, on, get on -"
She shoved Arthur forwards onto the steps, past the conductor, who goggled at Arthur as he passed.
"'Ere - it's Arthur -!"
"If you shout his name I will curse you into oblivion." Tonks muttered menacingly, currently shunting Mary and Chrys forwards.
"I've been curious to see what it's like to travel on this bus." David said as he and Mike joined Arthur on board.
It had been an evening the last time Arthur travelled by the Knight Bus and its three decks were full of brass bedsteads.
Currently in the early morning, it was crammed with an assortment of mismatched chairs that were grouped haphazardly around windows. Some appeared to have fallen over when the bus abruptly stopped in Grimmauld Place; a few witches and wizards were still getting to their feet, grumbling, and someone's shopping bag had slid the length of the bus: an unpleasant mixture of frogspawn, cockroaches and custard creams were scattered all over the floor.
"Looks like we'll have to split up." Tonks said briskly, looking around for any empty chairs. "Jack, Kevin and Mary, if you just take those seats at the back… Remus can stay with you."
She, Arthur, Mike, David and Chrys proceeded up to the very top deck, where there were two unoccupied chairs at the very front of the bus and three at the back. Stan Shunpike, the conductor, followed Arthur, Mike and David eagerly to the back. Heads also turned as Arthur passed and, when he sat, all faces flicked back to the front again.
As the three boys gave Stan eleven Sickles each, the bus set off again, swaying ominously.
It rumbled around Grimmauld Place, weaving on and off the pavement, then, with another tremendous BANG, they all flung backwards; David's chair toppling right over and Goliath, who was on his lap, burst out of his cage and flew wildly up to the front of the bus where he fluttered down onto Chrys' shoulder.
Arthur was able to narrowly avoid falling on his boyfriend by seizing a candle bracket. He then looked out the window, seeing that they were speeding down what looked like a motorway.
"Just outside Birmingham." Stan said happily, answering Arthur's unasked question as David struggled up from the floor. "You keepin' well, Arthur? I seen your name in the paper loads over the summer, but it weren't never nuffink very nice. I said to Ern, I said 'e didn't seem like a nutter when we met 'im, just goes to show, dunnit?"
He handed over their tickets and continued gazing, enthralled, at Arthur, which was annoying him to no end.
The Knight Bus swayed alarmingly, overtaking a line of cars on the inside. Looking towards the front of the bus, Arthur saw Chrys covering her eyes with her hands, Goliath swaying happily on her shoulder.
BANG
Chairs slid backwards again as the Knight Bus jumped from the Birmingham motorway to a quiet country lane full of hairpin bends. Hedgerows on either side of the road leapt out of their way as they mounted the verges. From here, they moved to a main street in the middle of a busy looking town, then to a viaduct that was surrounded by tall hills, then to a windswept road between high rise flats, each time with a loud BANG.
"I'm never riding on this bus ever again." David said as he picked himself up from the floor the sixth time.
"Listen, it's 'Ogwarts stop after this." Stan said brightly, swaying towards them. "That bossy woman up front 'oo got on with you, she's given us a little tip to move you up the queue. We're just gonna let Madam Marsh off first, though -" There was a retching sound from down below, followed by a horrible splattering noise. " - she's not feeling 'er best."
A few minutes later, the Knight Bus screeched to a halt outside of a small pub, which squeezed itself out of the way to avoid a collision. They all heard Stan ushering poor Madam Marsh out of the bus and the relieved murmurings of her fellow passengers on the second deck. The bus then moved on again, gathering speed until -
BANG
They rolled through a snowy Hogsmeade. Arthur caught a glimpse of the Hog's Head down its side street, the severed boar's head sign creaking in the wintry wind. Flecks of snow hit the large window at the front of the bus. Then at last, they rolled to a halt outside the gates to Hogwarts.
Lupin and Tonks helped them all out of the bus with their luggage before getting off to say their goodbyes. Arthur glanced up at the three decker bus and saw all the passengers staring down at them, their noses flat against the windows.
"You'll be safe once you're in the grounds." Tonks said, casting a careful eye around at the deserted road. "Have a good term, okay?"
"Look after yourselves." Lupin said, shaking hands all round and reached Arthur last. "And listen…" He lowered his voice as the rest exchanged last minute goodbyes with Tonks. "...Arthur, I know you despise Snape, but he is a superb Occlumens and we all - Sirius included - want you to learn to protect yourself, so work hard, alright?"
"I'd actually work hard if Snape doesn't abuse me." Artur spat, looking up into Lupin's prematurely lined face. "But I'll try. See you, then."
The seven of them all struggled up the slippery drive towards the castle, dragging their trunks.
Arthur glanced back when they reached the oaken front doors; the Knight Bus was already gone and a part of him wished he was still on board.
Arthur spent the next day dreading what the evening will entail. His morning double Potions lesson did nothing to lessen his dread and trepidation, with Snape being as unpleasant as ever. His mood was further lowered by various DA members who constantly approached him in the corridors between classes, asking with hope if the next meeting was later that night.
"I'll let you all know in the usual way when the next meeting is." Arthur said over and over. "I can't do it tonight, I've been assigned a private Potions lesson, which isn't remedial Potions." He added when he told Zacharias Smith this when he was cornered in the Entrance Hall after lunch.
Arthur greeted Cho with a friendly 'hi', which made Mike look at her with a frown.
"Mike, don't worry about her. We talked before the holidays. I set things straight with her and we're now just friends." Arthur said reassuringly, which made Mike sigh in relief.
"Good. By the way, the next Hogsmeade trip is next month on Valentine's Day. Do you think we should do something then, since we're together?" Mike said.
Arthur blushed, realising he was right.
"Well… we're still keeping our relationship a secret for now… but we could just hang out that day, look like we're not a couple, if that's good enough for you." Arthur suggested.
"No matter how we hang out, I'll do it since it's us." Mike grinned, sneaking a kiss on Arthur's cheek.
By six o'clock that evening, the glow of going out with Mike in Hogsmeade didn't lighten the ominous cloud that hovered over Arthur with every step he took to Snape's office.
He paused outside the door upon reaching, wishing he didn't have to take these lessons, but he took a deep breath and knocked before entering.
The shadowy room was lined with shelves of hundreds of glass jars that had slimy bits of animals and plants suspended in variously coloured potions. In one corner was the cupboard full of ingredients that Snape accused Arthur of robbing.
Arthur's attention was then drawn to the desk, where a shallow stone basin engraved with runes and symbols lay in a pool of candlelight. Arthur recognised it instantly as Dumbledore's Pensieve. He was confused as to why it was here when he heard Snape's cold voice from the shadows.
"Shut the door behind you, Pendergast."
Arthur did as ordered, feeling like he was imprisoning himself.
When he turned back into the room, Snape had moved into the light and pointed silently at the chair opposite his desk. Arthur sat down as Snape did, his cold black eyes fixed unblinkingly upon Arthur, dislike and contempt etched in every line of his face.
"Well, Pendergast, you know why you are here." He said. "The Headmaster has asked me to teach you Occlumency. I can only hope that you prove adept at it as you do at Potions."
"Right." Arthur said tersely.
"This may not be an ordinary class, Pendergast…" Snape said, his eyes narrowing malevolently. "...but I am still your teacher and you will therefore call me 'sir' or 'Professor' at all times."
"Yes… sir." Arthur spat, feeling like Snape doesn't deserve any respect at all.
"Now, Occlumency. As I told you back in your dear godfather's kitchen, this branch of magic seals the mind against magical intrusion and influence."
"And why would Professor Dumbledore think I need it, sir?" Arthur asked, looking directly into Snape's eyes.
Snape looked back at him for a moment before saying with contempt "Surely even you could have worked that out by now, Pendergast. The Dark Lord is highly skilled at Legilimency -"
"And what exactly is that, sir?"
"It is the ability to extract feelings and memories from another person's mind. Now, you're probably thinking that it is mind reading, but only Muggles talk of 'mind reading'. 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 pursued by any invader. The mind is a complex and many layered thing, Pendergast. It is true, however, that 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."
No matter how he worded it, Legilimency sounded like mind reading to Arthur, and he didn't like the sound of it.
"Would he be able to know what we're thinking right now, sir?"
"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." Snape said. "Time and space matter in magic, Pendergast. Eye contact is often essential to Legilimency."
"Then why do I have to learn Occlumency if that's the case?"
Snape eyed Arthur, tracing his mouth with one long, thin finger as he did so.
"The usual rules do not seem to apply with you, Pendergast. The curse that failed to kill you seems to have forged some kind of connection between you and the Dark Lord. The evidence suggests that at times, when your mind is most relaxed and vulnerable - when you are asleep, for instance - you are sharing the Dark Lord's thoughts and emotions. The Headmaster thinks it inadvisable for this to continue. He wishes me to teach you how to close your mind to the Dark Lord."
Arthur's heart was pumping fast as some of this didn't add up fully.
"Why would Professor Dumbledore want to stop it?" He asked. "I may hate it, but it's been useful. I saw through the snake's eyes when it attacked Ben Merlon and if I didn't, Professor Dumbledore wouldn't have been able to save him, would he, sir?"
Snape stared at him for a few moments, still tracing his mouth with his finger.
When he spoke again, it was slow and deliberate, like he weighed every word.
"It appears that the Dark Lord has been unaware of the connection between you and himself until very recently. Up till now it seems that you have been experiencing his emotions, and sharing his thoughts, without his being the wiser. However, the vision you had shortly before Christmas represented such a powerful incursion upon the Dark Lord's thoughts -"
"Then how come I saw through the snake's eyes if it's Voldemort's thoughts I'm sharing?"
"Do not say the Dark Lord's name!" Snape spat.
"I can say his name if I want to, I'm not scared of him." Arthur glared at him. "Besides, Professor Dumbledore says his name."
"Dumbledore is an extremely powerful wizard." Snape muttered. "While he may feel secure enough to use the name… the rest of us…."
He rubbed his left forearm, where the Dark Mark burned into his skin.
"I just want to know, sir." Arthur said through forced politeness.
"You seem to have visited the snake's mind because that was when the Dark Lord was at that particular moment." Snape snarled. "He was possessing the snake at the time and so you dreamed you were inside it, too."
"And he realised that I was there?" Arthur asked.
"It seems so." Snape said coolly.
"But how do you know, sir? Was it a guess by Dumbledore or by you?"
"It is enough that we know." Snape replied repressively. "The important point is that the Dark Lord is now aware that you are gaining access to his thoughts and feelings. He has also deduced that the process is likely to work in reverse, that is to say, he has realised that he might be able to access your thoughts and feelings in return -"
"And he might try to make me do things for him, sir?" Arthur asked urgently.
"He might." Snape said, sounding cold and unconcerned. "Which brings us back to Occlumency."
Snape then pulled out his wand from an inside pocket of his robes and Arthur tensed in his chair, though Snape merely raised his wand to his temple and placed the tip into the greasy roots of his hair. Then when he withdrew it, a silvery substance came away, stretching from temple to wand like a thick strand, which broke as he pulled the wand away from it and fell gracefully into the Pensieve, where it swirled silvery white, neither glass nor liquid.
Snape did this two more times before, without offering any explanation of his behaviour, he picked the Pensieve up carefully and removed it to a shelf out of their way and returned to face Arthur with his wand held at the ready.
"Stand up and take out your wand, Pendergast."
Arthur got to his feet, feeling worried as they faced each other with the desk between them.
"You may use your wand to attempt to disarm me, or defend yourself in any other way you can think of." Snape said.
"And what will you do?" Arthur asked, eyeing Snape's wand with a frown.
"I am about to attempt to break into your mind." Snape said softly. "We are going to see how well you resist. I have been told that the Imperius Curse has no effect on you. You will find that similar powers are needed for this… brace yourself, now. Legilimens!"
Snape struck Arthur before he was even ready. The office swam in front of his eyes and vanished as image after image raced through his mind like a flickering film so vivid that it blinded him to his surroundings.
He was five, watching a cartoon with Deacon… he was nine, Ripper the bulldog chased him up a tree….
Inside his head, Arthur heard a voice as he fought back.
Stop… that's all private… you have no rights… GET OUT OF MY HEAD!
Arthur now felt a sharp pain in his knee. Snape's office had come back into view and saw that he had fallen to the floor, colliding painfully with the leg of Snape's desk. He then looked up at Snape, who lowered his wand and rubbed his wrist where an angry weal was present, like a scorch mark.
"Did you mean to produce a Stinging Hex?" Snape said coolly.
"No." Arthur said bitterly as he got up from the floor.
"I thought not." Snape said contemptuously "You let me in for only a little bit."
"Did you see it all?" Arthur asked.
"Flashes of it." Snape said, his lip curling. "To whom did the dog belong?"
"My 'Aunt' Marge." Arthur muttered.
"Well, for a first attempt that was not as poor as it might have been." Snape said, raising his wand once more. "You managed to stop me in a short time, though you wasted energy shouting. You must remain focused. Repel me with your brain and you will not need to resort to your wand."
"Well, you didn't tell me how, did you, sir?" Arthur spat in contempt, clearly thinking that Snape did that on purpose.
"I want you to close your eyes."
Begrudgingly, he did as he was told, not liking the idea of standing there with his eyes closed while Snape faced him with a wand in his hand.
"Clear your mind, Pendergast." Snape's cold voice said. Let go of all emotion…."
Arthur thought that would be impossible, yet as he breathed in through his nose and out through his mouth, all his anger and frustration at Snape was gone, as were his other emotions.
"Let's go again… on the count of three… one… two… three… Legilimens!"
Arthur saw a great black dragon rearing in front of him… but then it was gone and he found himself back in Snape's office as he found himself on his knees.
"My, my… you're improving much quicker than I expected." Snape said softly, a hint of disappointment present in his voice. "You just might prove to be difficult prey for the Dark Lord. It would seem that you can control your emotions in some capacity."
"Did you really expect me to just do it immediately, sir?" Arthur said as he stood back up, confused why he'd think that since something like this isn't something you can just do instantly.
"We shall try again. Get ready, now! Legilimens!"
He saw himself running along a windowless passage with Ben Merlon… drawing nearer to the plain black door at the end of the corridor… Arthur thought he'd go through but Ben led him to the left, down a flight of stone steps…."
"ENOUGH!"
He found himself on all fours again on Snape's office floor, his scar now prickling unpleasantly.
He pushed himself up again and found Snape staring at him with his wand raised. It seemed as though Snape lifted the spell before Arthur even fought back.
"What happened then, Pendergast?" He asked as he eyed Arthur intently.
"What's in the Department of Mysteries, sir?" Arthur asked.
"Why would you ask such a thing?" Snape said quietly and Arthur saw that he was unnerved, which satisfied him.
"I saw that door in my dreams for months. I recognised it when I first saw it when I went to my hearing. Voldemort wants something from -"
"I have told you not to say the Dark Lord's name!"
The two glared at each other. Arthur's scar was in searing pain again, but he didn't give a damn. Snape looked agitated; but when he spoke again, he sounded like he was trying to seem cool and unconcerned.
"There are many things in the Department of Mysteries, Pendergast, few of which you would understand and none of which concern you. Do I make myself plain?"
"Yes, sir." Arthur spat, now rubbing his prickling scar, which became more painful.
"I want you back here same time on Wednesday. We will continue work then."
"Fine." Arthur spat, desperate to get out of Snape's office and find Mike, David and Chrys.
"You are to rid your mind of all emotion every night before sleep, empty it, make it blank and calm, you understand?"
"Yes." Arthur said.
"And be warned, Pendergast… I shall know if you have not practised…."
"Understood." Arthur mumbled before he picked up his schoolbag and swung it over his shoulder before hurrying towards the office door.
As he opened it, he glanced back at Snape, whose back faced Arthur and scooped his own thoughts out of the Pensieve with the tip of his wand and replaced them carefully inside his own head.
Arthur left without saying another word, closing the door carefully behind him, his scar still throbbing painfully.
Arthur found the three in the library, working on Umbridge's recent ream of homework. There were other students, mostly fifth years, sitting at lamp lit tables nearby, noses close to books quills scratching feverishly, while the sky outside grew blacker. The only other sound was that of slight squeaking of one of Madam Pince's shoes, as the librarian prowled the aisles menacingly, breathing down on many students' necks who had touched her precious books.
Arthur felt a bit shivery; his scar still ached, feeling almost feverish. As he sat next to Mike and opposite David and Chrys, he saw himself in the window opposite; he looked very white and his scar showed more clearly than normal.
"How did it go?" Mike asked before he looked at his boyfriend's face. "Hey, are you alright?"
"I don't know…." Arthur said, wincing in pain as his scar still felt painful. His thoughts were on the Department of Mysteries, remembering how he first heard of it when he was at the Quidditch World Cup, when Ben pointed out the people who work there, people called Unspeakables.
He suddenly frowned as he remembered one of their names… Bode… his eyes widened as he realised that the Bode they saw at St Mungo's had to be the same person. And if he's endured spell damage… he had to have endured being under the Imperius Curse and it messed his mind, like it did to Barty Crouch Sr.
He told the three about his recent deduction.
"Of course…" David whispered as Madam Pince swept past them. "...what better way to get what Voldemort is after than to have one of the people who work in the Department of Mysteries get whatever he's after for him."
"Considering how he ended up at St Mungo's, he must've fought back, which is probably because that's mandatory, considering how secretive that Department is." Chrys said.
"Arthur… are you sure you're alright?" Mike then asked, still concerned for him.
"Let's just say that Occlumency isn't fun." Arthur grimly replied.
"It's not surprising that you'd feel that way if your mind's attacked over and over." Chrys said sympathetically. "Let's go back to the common room, we'll be more comfortable there."
It turned out the common room was packed and full of shrieking laughter and excitement; Jack and Kevin were demonstrating their latest piece of joke shop merchandise.
"Headless Hats!" Kevin shouted as Jack waved a pointed hat decorated with a fluffy pink feather at the audience of students. "Two Galleons each, watch Jack!"
Jack swept the hat onto his head, beaming. For a second, he looked stupid until both his hat and head vanished.
Several girls screamed at this, yet everyone else roared with laughter.
"And off again!" Kevin shouted and Jack's hand groped for a moment in what looked like thin air over his shoulder before his head reappeared as he swept the pink feathered hat from it.
"How do those work?" Chrys asked in both awe and curiosity, distracted from her homework. "That must be some kind of Invisibility Spell, it's clever to extend the field of invisibility beyond the boundaries of the charmed object."
Arthur didn't answer as he felt very ill.
"I'll have to do this tomorrow." He said, pushing the books he took out back into his bag. "I'm going to bed."
Mike watched worriedly as Arthur walked across the common room, avoiding the twins, who tried to put a Headless Hat on him, reaching the peace and cool of the stone staircase to the boys' dormitories.
He started feeling sick again, a lot like that night he had the vision of the snake, but he hoped to lie down, thinking he'd be alright.
He opened the door to his dormitory and took a step inside it when he felt a pain so severe that he thought someone sliced into the top of his head.
He no longer knew where he was, or whether he was standing or lying down, he didn't even know his own name.
Horrible maniacal laughter rang in his ears… he felt happy, happier than he ever felt in a very long time… jubilant, ecstatic and triumphant. Something wander had just happened.
"ARTHUR!"
He felt a hand slap him hard across the face and the insane laughter was punctuated with a cry of pain. The happiness drained out of him yet the laughter continued….
Arthur opened his eyes and was aware, much to his self horror, that the laughter came from his own mouth. This made it all die out; Arthur found himself on the floor, panting heavily, staring up at the ceiling. The scar on his forehead now throbbed horribly. Mike and David bent over him, looking scared and worried.
"What the hell was that?" David asked.
"That was the most horrible laughter I ever heard." Mike said, sounding genuinely scared.
"It's Voldemort…" Arthur gasped, still feeling the horror of realisation. "He's overjoyed about something."
"What?" Mike asked as he helped Arthur up, who was shaking so badly that he had to sit on his bed, feeling sick.
"Something good just happened for him." Arthur mumbled. "It's something he hoped for."
These words just came to him, just like they did back in the Gryffindor changing room, like someone else spoke through his mouth.
He then willed himself to not throw up as he was glad that Dean and Seamus weren't there to watch.
"We just came to check up on you." David said in a low voice as Mike sat next to his boyfriend and rubbed his back. "Chrys was saying that your defences would be low at the moment after Snape messed with it."
Arthur was now thinking that since Snape was a Death Eater, he just might be doing these Occlumency lessons only to weaken his mind for Voldemort to invade it with ease. The thought made him so angry that he wanted to just punch Snape to the point that he was unrecognisable.
He slumped onto his pillows, aching all over from having fallen to the floor so often today. His scar also still prickled painfully.
Arthur was growing worried about what made Voldemort the happiest he had been in fourteen years.
That moment with the laugh has to be one of the most chilling and haunting moments in all of the books and films.