The Figure Clothed in Black

Chapter Twenty: Occlumency

Crabbe prepared to jump out of his hiding place and grab the unsuspecting girl walking through the lawns of Hogwarts. As she passed the statue, he sprang out, covered her mouth, and dragged her down into the secret passageway, taking her out of the safety of Hogwarts.

*~*

Harry sat bolt upright in bed, pale and sweaty. He got out of bed and went into his godfather's room to wake him up. Harry shook Sirius's shoulders to wake him up.

"Harry, what's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?" Sirius asked instantly awake when he saw his godson's pale face.

"I saw a Death Eater, I think it was Crabbe, grab a girl and take her into the passageway that comes out in the shrieking shack. I know it could be something that Voldemort sent, but it felt like it was real. Can we go and see if there are any traces of someone being in the tunnel? Wait, I'll be right back." With that said he dashed out of the room. He flung open his trunk and took out the Marauder's Map. He found the passageway, but no one was in it. Momentary relief washed over him.

At least it wasn't real. Or maybe they had already got off school grounds when I looked, and some girl is soon going to be in Voldemort's clutches!

Harry groaned and put his head in his hands. He felt a hand rest on his shoulder, but didn't look up knowing it was Sirius.

"Get up, Harry, I'll fix us either some tea, or hot chocolate. Which do you want?" Harry sighed again. He didn't want any tea, or hot chocolate. He wanted to know if the dream was true, or not. He knew Sirius wouldn't let him think until he told him which he wanted.

"Hot chocolate," he answered dully and got up from the floor. Sirius nodded, and left the room with Harry behind him.

Five minutes later they were seated in front of the fire in the living room. Harry sipped his drink, thinking.

"Harry, starting tomorrow you're going to have Occlumency lessons with Snape twice a week at six in the evening." Harry stared at him. This has to be a joke.

"You're joking right? You're just trying to get my mind off the nightmare aren't you?"

"No, I'm not joking. I talked to him, and he agreed to begin lessons again. It took some persuasion form Dumbledore to convince him to do it, but he had agreed."

"WHAT? I CAN'T HAVE LESSONS WITH HIM AGAIN! WHY WOULD YOU LET ME?"

Sirius flinched. "I'm going to be in the next room while you have the lessons-"

"How is you being in the next room going to help me?" he asked annoyingly. Sirius let his tone of voice slid this time.

"The room has a two-way mirror so I will be able to see what he is doing, and make sure he doesn't go overboard. I know how much you can handle better than he does, and will came and get you when I know that you can't do anymore, or are almost to where you can't if he hasn't already said you can go. I know you don't want to go, I'm not happy with it myself, but you can't keep having these nightmares. You know it's important to not have these nightmares, and I know you don't want to have them anymore."

"Can't I have lessons with someone besides Snape?" he asked in a slightly whiney tone.

"The only other person who can teach Occlumency is Dumbledore, but he explained why he wouldn't be able to teach you correct?" Harry nodded. "The only other person is Snape."

"I'm not going," he said stubbornly, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Yes, you are. I will walk to the dungeons tomorrow, watch the lesson through the two-way mirror, and then escort you back here," Sirius said firmly.

"I'm not going and you can't make me."

"You are going and I can to make you. I am you godfather, and legal guardian, and you will do as I say. You are having lesson with him tomorrow whether you like it or not. End of discussion." Harry sighed and scowled darkly at the fire.

I'm not going. I don't care what he says; I'm not going.

*~*

Harry had his arms crossed tightly over his chest, scowling.

"Potter, you know how this goes. Clear you mind, or at least try to, and we'll see how good you are blocking me. Legilimens!"

He was six, and his uncle was hitting him for something... He was twelve, and the Dursley's were starving him... Cho was drawing near him...

He was still standing up, but his legs felt like water. He collapsed into one of the chairs in the classroom. After a minute he stood up again. Snape was giving him an odd look; have pity and half bewilderment. "What?" he asked seeing the look on his face.

"Nothing, let's try again. On the count of three... one- two- three- Legilimens!"

Cedric's blank eyes stared up at him... Sirius fell through the veil... him with a knife in his hand...

Harry felt the floor underneath him and, then an instant later, heard Sirius's voice telling him to get up, that the lesson was over. Harry shakily got to his feet, and left the classroom leaning heavily on his godfather.

Harry slept through the rest of the evening and night. Sirius kept a very close watch on him knowing he would be very vulnerable for Voldemort even when awake. Harry had other thoughts on his minds than Voldemort. He was thinking of Kayla.

If what Hermione said was true, and that she would like to have me as a boyfriend, then she won't say no will she?

Well there's only one why to find out.

~ Kayla? ~

~ What Harry ~

He took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and thought to her:

~ Will you go out with me? ~

~*~