It was the second to last day before they were all due to go back to Hogwarts. Harry and Ron were in the drawing room, playing chess: Harry was sitting on Seamus' lap while he whispered different tactics to him. Hermione was in the corner with Ginny, teasing Crookshanks with a toy mouse. The atmosphere was comfortable; the rest of Seamus' visit went smoothly after the first day – everyone was very warm and welcome, and Harry could see the huge effort Mrs. Weasley was making to make Seamus feel as welcomed as possible. But that still didn't stop Harry from pulling away from Seamus slightly every time she entered the room. It wasn't a comfortable feeling.

The door opened just then, and Mrs. Weasley walked in. Harry made to move off Seamus' lap, but he was holding onto Harry's waist tightly. Harry turned slightly red as she approached them.

"Harry, dear. Professor Snape is down in the kitchen – he needs a word with you." Mrs. Weasley said. The room grew quiet as all eyes turned to Harry.

"M-me? Why does Snape want to see me? Term doesn't start for another few days." Harry asked, confused.

"Professor Snape, Harry. And I'm not sure why. But he is on a time crunch, so if you could head downstairs…" She turned and left the room. Harry exchanged looks with the others.

"What could he possibly want with you?" Seamus asked, releasing his grip on Harry, who reluctantly stood up.

"Not sure…wish me luck, though."

Harry made his way down to the kitchens nervously, thinking. There was no way he could be in trouble. He didn't do anything before he left school…he was all caught up with his homework…he was even doing rather decently in his class. So what could it possibly be? When he entered the kitchen, it was to find Snape and Sirius sitting at opposite ends of the table, glaring at each other. Harry cleared his throat to let them know he was there.

"Potter…let's make this quick. Take a seat." Snape drawled. Harry took a seat next to Sirius, not wanting to be anywhere near the Potions master. Snape sneered at this. "Your godfather has insisted he sit in on this meeting, though I have assured him he doesn't have to –"

"It is my right and duty as his godfather," Sirius said dryly. Snape sneered again and turned to Harry.

"I have been assigned the unfortunate task of giving you special private lessons this semester –"

"Private lessons? With you?" Harry turned to Sirius, who looked at Snape in confusion.

"Yes, Potter. Per Dumbledore's wishes. You are to have Occlumency lessons with me once a week –"

"What's that?" Harry asked, confused.

Snape's lip curled. "Do not interrupt me, Potter."

"Don't talk to my godson like that," Sirius glared.

"Then it would be prudent if you taught your godson some manners. As I was saying…"

Harry got a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach as he exchanged looks with Sirius once more. He turned back to Snape. "Occlumency is the art of closing one's mind against Legilimency."

Harry waited for Snape to continue, but he didn't. "And Legilimency is…?"

"It's the power to access one's mind, thoughts, feelings…it can help prevent influencing all those."

"So it's like mind reading?" Harry asked.

"Not in the slightest. Only simpletons would think that," Snape rolled his eyes.

"Harry is not a simpleton!" Sirius growled. "And why does Dumbledore need you to teach him? Why can't he teach Harry himself?"

"Because the headmaster is a very busy man, Black. So the unfortunate task was left to me. And at any rate, I am the most accomplished Legilimens at the school at the present moment. That being said, you will tell no one what you are doing. Should anyone ask, you will tell them you're taking extra lessons with me. No doubt no will bat an eye…" Snape's lip curled in humor. He made to stand up. Sirius stood up as well.

"If I hear you're putting Harry through hell in these classes, you'll have me to answer to," Sirius said threateningly.

Snape's lips curled in amusement. "Empty threat, Black. You aren't allowed to leave this place…Dumbledore has made sure of that – "

"I would do anything to protect Harry! He knows that too!" Sirius yelled.

"Temper, temper. There's no need to get agitated. I wouldn't dream of doing anything to your precious godson." He gave Harry a smirk and took his leave.

Harry turned to Sirius. "I don't really have to do extra lessons with him, do I?"

"I'll see what I can do," Sirius didn't sound too confident, however. "If Dumbledore truly wants you to take lessons with Snape, I'm sure he has a damn good reason."

Harry sighed heavily as he headed back to the others. That's just what he needed; another thing on his plate. He could tell Snape was going to make his life a living hell that semester.

"What did Snape want?" Seamus asked as Harry entered the room. It looked as though Seamus had taken over the game: Ron was winning, of course. Harry resumed his seat in Seamus' lap once more.

"Dumbledore told him I need to take extra lessons with Snape this semester," Harry said gloomily.

"What?!" The others said, outraged. Harry explained what he had to do and how often.

"Occlumency... I think I've heard of that before," Hermione said.

"Whatever Snape says, it basically sounds like I'm learning to block mind reading." Harry explained.

"I suppose…" Hermione stopped, but paused, as though she was in deep concentration.

"You suppose what?" Ron prompted.

"I suppose it would make sense….these dreams you've been having, Harry…and the vision you had of Mr. Weasley…you said they could all have been through the eyes of Voldemort, right?" Hermione asked.

"Right…except for the vision…that was through a snake."

"Exactly. So what if Dumbledore thinks these dreams are connected to Voldemort's mind?"

Harry's eyes grew with fear. "Are you – are you suggesting that Voldemort can read my mind?"

"Perhaps…or maybe you can somehow read his –"

"But if that were true, wouldn't reading you-know-who's mind be a beneficial thing?" Seamus asked. They others looked at him, confused. "I mean, think about it! If Harry hadn't had that vision, Mr. Weasley could have died –"

"Don't remind me." Harry's stomach still turned at the thought.

"And if Harry could read his mind, then we would know exactly what he was up to, and we could put a stop to him!" Seamus said.

"I mean, that's a brilliant idea and all," Ron said, "but there has to be a reason Dumbledore wants them to be stopped."

"Snape said something about thoughts and emotions being manipulated…" Harry screwed up his face, trying to remember the conversation from the kitchen.

"Maybe Dumbledore fears Voldemort will access your mind…maybe influencing you to think or do things," Hermione said, looking at Harry uncomfortably. Harry swallowed hard. The very thought of Voldemort accessing his mind was truly terrifying.

Seamus felt Harry tense in his lap: He tightened his grip around his waist. "When do you start these lessons?"

"He didn't say…just that I would be starting them this semester." Harry could already feel his scar throbbing at the very thought of extra lessons with Snape.

The first week back to Hogwarts went by quickly, but without anything major happening. Harry was very grateful for this, for his first Occlumency lesson with Snape was Friday after dinner time. The others wished him luck as he left the dining hall and made his way to Snape's dungeon office. When he knocked on the door, Snape's oily voice answered, "Enter."

Harry entered the nearly dark office, shutting the door behind him. Snape was sitting behind his desk, finishing what looked like a letter. He set it aside when Harry approached him.

"Sit, Potter." Snape indicated the chair next to Harry, who took a seat. "Occlumency is an advanced branch of magic, as is Legimency."

"And what is the difference between the two?" Harry asked. Snape raised his eyebrows. "Sir." Harry added.

"Occlumency protects against though using Legimency against them."

"Almost like a shield charm?" Harry asked, trying to make sense of it.

"I suppose you could see it that way," Snape said. "It is not an easy magic to learn, especially by those who are already…fragile…"

"I am not fragile…sir." Harry said, trying not to lose his temper.

"That remains to be seen." Snape stood up and took out his wand. "If you will stand up, Potter. And take your wand out as well."

Harry did as he was told. He couldn't pretend he wasn't a little nervous being in a dark room with Snape pointing a wand at him.

"I'm going to try and break into your mind, you're going to try and block me using whatever spell you can think of. On the count of three…"

Harry stood up straighter, his pulse quickening at the thought of being asked to defend his mind with no prior practice.

"One…two…three…Legilimens!" Snape pointed his wand at Harry who had almost no time to react.

Harry watched in his mind's eye as he was being chased up a tree by Aunt Marge's dog Ripper…he was being thrown into the pool at his muggle school while the other boys laughed…Harry was holding Cedric's lifeless body as he ran for the portkey…

Harry felt a pain in his knee as he opened his eyes: He was kneeling on the floor in front of Snape's desk. Harry stood up, flinching at the pain. Snape was looking at him with disdain. "You let me get too far in. You need to react faster."

"You hardly gave me any time, sir," Harry said, rubbing his knee.

"The dark lord will not give you time, Potter. You need to have your mind constantly blocked. Again!" And before Harry could react, he was again reliving his memories.

Harry and Dudley were being chased by the Dementors…Harry and Seamus experienced their first kiss…Harry was holding a razor blade in front of him….

Harry tried to stop the images from coming and felt a new pain radiating from his head. When he next opened his eyes, it was to find himself on the floor, having banged his head on a nearby shelf. He sat up, lights popping in his eyes. When he opened them, it was to find Snape laying on the floor as well. He stood up hastily, glaring at Harry.

"I can't pretend that wasn't a good start…did you mean to use the disarming charm?" Snape asked, watching Harry stand up as well.

"No sir," Harry said, now both his head and knee aching. "Did you….did you see everything I saw?"

"Yes," Snape's lip curled malevolently again. "We will try again. But before I start, I want you to close your eyes and concentrate."

Harry swallowed hard, feeling uncomfortable at that idea. He closed his eyes, gripping his wand tightly should Snape try anything funny.

"I want you to try and empty your mind…empty your mind of all thoughts and emotions…"

Harry tried his best to do as Snape said. But the image of Cedric's body popped up…the image of the razor blade…everything he was afraid of just kept wanting to come to the surface.

"You're not doing it, Potter." Snape said agitated. "You need to let everything go. Try again."

Harry screwed his eyes up in complete concentration. He tried not letting any thoughts into his mind…it was harder than he thought it would be.

"Good, Potter. Again…one…two…three…Legilimens!"

Harry and Seamus were making out behind the broom shed…Harry was cutting his wrists in his bedroom at Privet Drive, blood dripping onto his sheets…and again, in the Hogwarts bathroom, his arms already covered….he was curled up in the shower at Grimmauld Place, blood swirling down the drain…

Harry gasped as he was pulled out of the memory sequence – this time Snape had lifted the spell. He and Harry made eye contact: Harry's heart was beating furiously as the memories slowly faded from his mind's eye.

"I think we will call it a night, Potter." Snape said, lowering his wand. Harry looked at Snape confused – was that pity he saw in his eyes? Harry nodded as he made to turn around, but Snape called him back. "Homework, Potter. You are to try and clear your mind every night before you go to sleep. And we will take this back up next Friday. You're dismissed."

Harry didn't wait to be told twice.

Harry entered his dorm room close to nearly ten that night. He felt completely drained and barely heard Seamus and Ron calling his name as he flopped onto his bed, completely dressed. He barely reacted as he felt Seamus lying next to him and tussling his hair.

"Baby?" Seamus said.

"I'm fine. I'm just so exhausted…I don't like Occlumency…" Harry opened his eyes to find Seaumus' staring at him. He couldn't help but smile.

"What happened during the lesson?" Seamus asked.

Harry paused, the smile fading. He didn't want to relieve what he had was forced to watch in his mind. He leaned forward and buried his face in Seamus' neck, not saying anything. Seamus kissed his forehead, putting his arm around him.

"It's ok, baby. You don't have to talk about it if you're not ready." Seamus said softly.

Harry sat there next to Seamus, thinking. He trusted him more than anything in the world. He pulled away and looked at him once more. "Snape…Snape was able to bring up all these memories…memories I didn't even realize existed…memories I didn't want to relive."

"Was Snape able to see them too?" Seamus asked, watching him. Harry nodded. "What did he do? I mean, how did he bring them up?"

"He used a spell…he was trying to get me to block him. But I couldn't…and…Shay, it was just so hard…I saw Cedric again…and I saw myself – cutting –"

"Shhh Harry, you don't have to talk about it," Seamus said, rubbing Harry's hair. The two just stayed there, staring into each other's eyes. Harry found it quite comforting. He snuggled up closer to his boyfriend, feeling like he was the luckiest person in the world.