An Interesting Little Legal Problem

Chapter Four: In Which Harry Resumes Occlumency Lessons With a New Teacher

"It can't have started yet," said Lupin, who looked puzzled. He knelt beside Snape and checked for a pulse. "It's all right, he's just knocked out."

Snape opened his eyes. "Are - are you all right, Professor?" asked Hermione.

To everyone's relief, the Potions Master already seemed back to normal. "Yes, of course I'm all right, apart from a small spot of attempted murder! No, Lupin, I do not want any first aid from you. I had to clean up after enough of your attempts when you were teaching at Hogwarts." He struggled to sit up, and his eyes suddenly narrowed in suspicion. "You wouldn't mind getting your hands on some of these books, wouldn't you?"

"Nonsense," said Lupin. "If I had wanted any of Sirius' books, he would have given or lent them to me. He did give me quite a few of them, as it happens."

"There wasn't anyone else in the library when I got here," said Kingsley. "It's got to be the Primogenitrus charm kicking in."

"It's too early," Snape insisted. "Malfoy hasn't made his claim to the property. Somebody in this house pushed that gargoyle."

"You'd better let me stop the bleeding," said Molly Weasley. She knelt down and gave Snape a wet smooch on the forehead. The cut healed immediately, leaving only a smear of lipstick.

Ron made a choking noise, and Snape glared at him.

"And I agree with Kingsley," Mrs. Weasley added, "it looks like time for some of us to clear out of here. Go and get your things, Ron. We're going home as soon as we pick up Ginny at Dean's."

Mr. Evans, too, gathered up Mark and said goodbye.

"That means you, too, Lupin," said Snape, nursing the bruise on his head and trying to maintain a little dignity by covering the lipstick smudge with one hand, "now that you've got the perfect excuse to stay out of danger."

Harry's guardian opened his mouth as if to protest, but Tonks said, "He's right, Remus. You remember what we agreed."

"All right," said Lupin reluctantly. He looked at Hermione. "Are your parents home?"

She shook her head. "Not yet. Their dental surgery doesn't close until six."

"You'd better come with me and Harry, then." He turned to Mrs. Weasley. "Could I borrow Ron for tea?"

She nodded. "Just as long as you don't stay here. It's much too dangerous."

* * *

"What was that all about?" Harry asked once they were back at the flat.

"Oh, it's one of the many delightful features of the Primogenitrus charm," Lupin explained. "If anybody other than the legal heir attempts to take possession of the property, the house tries to assassinate them. Falling bricks, caved-in roofs, that sort of thing. One poor man in Bratislava was actually swallowed by his own toilet."

"But Professor Snape's right, that isn't supposed to happen until someone makes a formal claim to the property," said Hermione, who appeared to know all about it. Harry wondered if she, too, had been spending her evenings reading law books.

"You're right," said Lupin thoughtfully, "and that's the puzzling part. We certainly haven't, and I don't see how Draco could have done it either with all the defenses around the house. My only guess is that the house is responding to all those little acts of sabotage, although petty theft and accidental damage aren't usually sufficient to trigger the curse by themselves. It's possible that the Blacks used an exceptionally sensitive version of the Primogenitrus Charm, though; they were a paranoid bunch. Anyway, we agreed that a few members of the Order would continue trying to destroy anything compromising and salvage whatever we could, but anybody who had a family to look after would stay home."

The room was so cozy that it was hard to take the impending danger seriously. Felicity and Crookshanks had taken to each other at once and were lying in a furry heap on one of the armchairs. Hermione was busy sorting through a pile of Lupin's books and squealing at the occasional discovery. Even Ron seemed fascinated by a number of the volumes on the shelves, especially one book entitled Decorating with Human Transfiguration; or, How to Make an Umbrella Stand out of Your Enemy. "Don't you think Malfoy would make a lovely umbrella stand?" he asked.

"No," said Lupin firmly. "Sirius gave that to me. Like most of the books from the Black family collection, it deals with a branch of magic that is ancient, Dark, and highly illegal. Besides, transfiguring humans into inanimate objects never works very well. You'd probably end up with an umbrella stand that hops around the house and swears at the guests, which is no good to anyone."

"Oh." Ron sounded disappointed. "Well, could we do anything else to him?"

Lupin shook his head. "Apart from the ethical problems, which I should think were obvious, it would bring the house straight down on our heads if we laid a hand on the heir. Besides, all this uncertainty helps us in a way; what we want to do now is play for time. It's fairly certain that Lord Voldemort won't try to do anything until the house comes into the Malfoys' possession, although, of course, he'll probably be trying to gather intelligence in other ways. Which means, Harry, for the sake of all of our safety, I've got to insist that you resume Occlumency lessons. Professor Snape will be coming here every night to bring me my potion over the next week, so he'll be around to give you lessons then."

Harry groaned, and then a hopeful thought struck him. "But the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Sorcery -"

"Has always allowed exceptions for home schooling," said Lupin. "I've already stopped by the Ministry and obtained the proper permits."

Ron shot Harry a look of sympathy. Hermione, however, looked quite pleased at the mention of Occlumency lessons. Harry wondered if his guardian had waited on purpose to spring this on him while she was visiting.

But what Hermione had to say surprised him. "But why can't Harry do lessons over the summer with you, Professor Lupin? Wouldn't it be easier when he's staying here anyway?"

Ron rolled his eyes at her. "Don't be thick, because he needs a Legilimens to practice with."

"I'm not a professor of Occlumency - or anything else, for that matter," Lupin said pointedly.

"But he is a Legilimens - aren't you - Remus?" said Hermione, going slightly pink.

"Hermione," said Lupin slowly, "while there is almost nothing that I would be surprised to discover that you know, I am extremely interested in knowing how you figured that out."

"If he was a Legilimens, wouldn't he know that already?" said Ron with a scornful look at Hermione. Lupin shook his head.

"I figured it out because that's how you knew Sirius was innocent, back in the Shrieking Shack, wasn't it?" said Hermione. "You looked into his eyes, and it was like you were seeing something behind them, something the rest of us couldn't see ..."

"I'd almost forgotten about that. Yes," said Lupin rather unhappily. "I do have some skill in Legilimency - although I'm nowhere near as experienced or practiced as Severus - which I have used in emergencies, and if I had to, I could probably teach Harry. But -"

Harry thought back to the handful of times when Lupin had voiced thoughts Harry had not yet spoken, almost as if he were reading Harry's mind. "Have you used it on me?"

"No. Well, I get odd flashes sometimes without meaning to, but never on purpose. What I was about to tell you is that I don't like doing it. I think it's intrusive and unfair to use it in everyday life. A life or death situation is another matter, and besides, I did it with Sirius' permission. He looked me in the eye - invited me to make the connection. No, if I've ever seemed to read your thoughts, Harry, it's only because I remember what it was like to be a boy - with an unusual set of burdens."

"But this is a life or death situation," said Hermione. "You said so yourself. Would you really rather die than teach Harry? Because I don't think he is ever going to learn Occlumency from Professor Snape."

"Yeah," said Ron, who seemed to be won over by the idea. "And I don't blame him. It's not like the slimy git made much of an effort to get along with him, did he?"

"Instead of the rest of us talking about what Harry should do or will do," said Lupin, "I think it's time we asked Harry. Harry, what do you think?"

"I understand why you don't like doing it. I don't like it either, but - I'd rather study it with you," said Harry. "I wouldn't mind as much about ... you knowing some things."

He caught a flicker of sympathy in Lupin's eyes, and knew that he had won. "All right. We'll start tomorrow. In the meantime, would anybody like another butterbeer?"

* * *

Harry faced his guardian across the dining room table. "Ready, Harry?" Lupin asked. Harry nodded and tried to make his mind go blank. "Legilimens!"

The images seemed more solid than they had with Snape, and he suspected at once that Lupin had understated the extent of his skill at Legilimency...

He was in primary school, staring dully at a chalkboard full of subtraction problems and dreading recess ... Dudley and Piers Polkiss were holding him down on the school playground and twisting his arm ... He was running away from his aunt and uncle's home and hiding in the park ... Mrs. Figg found him and took him back to her house and made him decorate her Christmas tree with garlands of cranberries and catnip ... It was another Christmas, and he was visiting Arthur Weasley in the hospital...

And then something slipped into, or out of, place and the memories shifted ... He was still in the Dai Llewellen ward at St. Mungo's, but he was very small and struggling across the room on crutches ... A petite woman with greying brown hair gave him an encouraging smile ... There was something familiar about her face - it made him think of joy and tenderness and somehow, deep sadness as well ... It also reminded him that he was there to resist the flow of memories. He struggled, and managed to shake off the connection.

"Good," said Lupin. "A little too slow, though. Let's see if you can do it faster next time."

"I think I would've liked your mum," Harry blurted out, and felt his cheeks go hot. Where on earth had that come from? And how had he known who the woman was?

"I think she'll like you too. I'm too busy with this business about the estate to get away just now, but I was thinking we might go to Manchester and visit her over your Christmas holidays. If you'd like, I mean."

Harry was startled. He had always known, somewhere in the back of his mind, that his own grandparents were dead, but it had never occurred to him that the other adult wizards he knew might have parents who were still alive. He realized that it would be very strange if none of them did.

"And your dad?" he asked.

"Killed in the first war."

"Any brothers or sisters?"

"No. Very fussed-over and indulged only child. Expect I must have been a horrible brat."

Harry doubted this, somehow.

Lupin was gazing at him with a strange, intent expression. "Let me ask you something. Did that happen in your lessons with Professor Snape, too? You saw his memories as well as your own?"

"Once, after I used a Shield Charm. But I didn't do anything this time. Is that ... not supposed to happen?"

"Legilimency always creates a two-way connection, but usually the person whose mind is being accessed can't enter the Legilimens' thoughts without special training. If you've pulled it off more than once, it suggests that you've probably got the knack for Legilimency even if you haven't been trained for it. It's a useful ability for an Auror, and you may choose to develop it further in the future if that's the career you want, or ..." He had been talking very rapidly, but now he stopped short. "Or not, of course." Suddenly, he grinned. "You know, I think I like teaching almost enough to forget I hate Legilimency. Thank you for reminding me of that. Let's have another go."

"All right."

"Legilimens!"

Snow was falling on the Hogwarts grounds ... Harry and Ron, still in their first year, were walking to a class and laughing at something ... they were playing wizard chess in the Gryffindor common room ... the position on the chessboard shifted, and so did the players ... He looked up from the board at two other boys who were chasing each other around the common room - his father and Sirius ... Harry leaned forward, hungry to see more -

Lupin's voice cut into the flow of memories. "If this were a lesson in Legilimency, Harry, you'd have top marks, but unfortunately it isn't. Do try breaking the connection yourself next time."

"Sorry," Harry muttered.

"Last time I gave you private lessons, you struck me as a fighter. What's happened?"

Harry didn't know what to say. He had a vague sense that too many things had happened, most of them having to do with the Department of Mysteries, but trying to articulate what they were left him feeling exhausted and defeated.

"Are you having a hard time blocking things because you want to know more about James and Sirius?"

That was a simple answer and partly true. Harry nodded.

"All right, why don't we make a deal. Occlumency first, questions afterward. You can ask me anything, and I promise I'll answer honestly, but you've got to make an honest effort as well."

"Deal," said Harry.

"One more time, then. Actually, I'd like to try something a little different this time, just to check how much of a gift for this you've got. I'm going to concentrate on that last memory, and I want you to see if you can home in on it again."

Harry concentrated on chessboards, and on the common room ... yes, he'd got it ... James was tackling Sirius, sending a lamp crashing to the floor and bringing one of the prefects running ... His partner's eyes met his across the chessboard, with a look that said more clearly than words, They're at it again, and they smiled at each other ...

He was smiling at Wormtail.

"Excellent, Harry! You really fought it, that time!"

"You - you were best friends - with that traitorous rat - " Well, of course they were. His father and Sirius were best friends. Why hadn't he made the obvious inference before?

"Yes. Question time, I think."

"You didn't seem that close in the Pensieve," Harry said after a moment's thought.

"We weren't, by then."

"What happened?"

Lupin looked deeply uncomfortable. "I - well, you have to understand ..."

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

"No. It's all right. Think about it this way. God, this is difficult, because you've always been set apart - but imagine for a minute that you're someone very ordinary. You're not a star Quidditch player, you study hard but you're never going to be top in any of your classes, and there's no money in your family's bank vault, and nobody pays you any particular attention apart from your own circle of friends."

"All right," said Harry, imagining that he was Ron. He wondered where this was going.

"Let's also say you have a couple of friends who've been gifted with everything, or at least everything that seems to matter when you're twelve or thirteen. Popular, good-looking, athletic, rich, and so dead brilliant they can glance at a book and know the whole thing by heart, and then spend the rest of the day enjoying themselves. You pretty much have two choices. You can be madly envious, or you can accept it, but either way, you're not going to be as close to them as to your other very ordinary friend."

Harry thought about this. "Is that what you're saying, that you were jealous of my dad and Sirius?"

"No, I'm saying that I wasn't particularly, but Peter was. That's the crux of the thing, the bit you've got to understand. And then - to my surprise, and as a result of circumstances completely beyond my control - I was the one they suddenly decided was beyond cool." He smiled slightly. "Thirteen-year-old boys have a strange definition of cool, and for some odd reason, turning into a ravenous beast once a month seems to qualify."

"So he was jealous of you?"

"Yes. But the other thing you have to know about Peter was that he was, well, a good-natured kid. Stop looking at me like that - he was. He wasn't the sort of person who sought out confrontations and he would never let you know he resented a situation in any obvious way, and it took me a while to notice that things weren't the same between us. Even when I did - well, there I was with a couple of very exciting, very popular friends who were finally treating me as an equal. I didn't spend much time thinking about him or trying to patch things up with him." He looked at Harry from across the table. "Are you still absolutely sure you know who betrayed whom?"

"Yes," said Harry positively.

"Good. Stay sure. Thinking about it any other way doesn't seem to accomplish anything. I have to keep reminding myself of that." He pushed his greying hair out of his eyes and blinked in a tired-looking way. "Is there anything else you'd like to know?"

Harry shook his head. The whole conversation was beginning to make him profoundly uneasy. He didn't understand why Lupin suddenly appeared to be sympathizing with somebody he'd tried to kill, and he certainly didn't see the point of asking questions of someone who seemed less certain of the answers than he was himself.