Erised Revisited

2. An Ear Full

Hermione stopped in the center of the garden, "Right well, this looks like a nice grassy spot. It should help to cushion the falls."

"I'm not going to fall."

"Ron, so far the only person who hasn't passed out is Luna."

"And why is that?"

"Because she can do it, she can block the Legilimens spell and she doesn't seem to strain herself doing it. She's very impressive."

Harry's night had been restless and he had been awoken early by the mysterious buzzing. Rubbing at his grainy eyes, he interrupted, "How did you get to be such an expert on this business Hermione? There weren't any books on it in the Hogwarts' library. I searched for hours, anything to get out of working with Snape."

"Well, I wrote Viktor. Durmstang has several volumes on the subject. Even though he's graduated they still think very highly of him. He sent me a few." Hermione pulled out a small black leather book and began to skim it.

"Why would Durmstang have it and not Hogwarts?" Ron asked suspiciously.

"It's a very obscure branch of magic and the Legilimens spell borders on Dark Arts. There was even a movement in the mid-1800s to make it an Unforgivable. Trying to force yourself into someone else's mind is a fairly evil thing to do. In some cases I think you could argue it's worse than Imperius. Anyway, Durmstang has a ... more relaxed notion of what should be available to students."

"Hah," Ron snorted.

Hermione ignored him. "Okay, looks like we'll need to separate by gender. I mean, we can stay right here, but Ron and Harry will need to work with each other and Luna, Ginny, and I will take have to turns between the three of us."

"Why?" Harry asked.

Hermione consulted the open book, "It says here because the male and female minds are organized differently. It can be dangerous when they are forcibly imposed on each other."

"I don't need some bloody book from Bulgariato tell me that," Ron muttered, but a little louder than he had meant to.

Ginny laughed, "Do I detect trouble in Susan-land?"

"We're fine. Thanks loads for asking."

Hermione scowled at them both. "As I was saying, it can be dangerous for novices in Legilimency to force a cross gender reading. Once we've worked on it for a few weeks, we can try different pairings and mix genders. Now to begin with, obviously someone must be able to cast the Legilimens spell correctly or there can be no Occlumency to block it. Harry and Ron will have to work on that first. We girls have had some success with that and can help a little with some pointers. Luna, Ginny, why don't you two go practice a bit while I start these two off?"

After Ginny and Luna retired a few steps Harry asked, "Is it difficult?"

"It's not easy but this book has a lot of useful hints at getting started. See this animated illustration? Illustrations like this are very rare by the way. We are very lucky Viktor sent this book. It shows the wand movement required in great detail. I never would have figured it out from just a written description. Now the best way to get started is for you two to pick a memory you share and focus on it. Ron you will try the Legilimens spell on Harry and attempt to see that memory in his mind."

Ron looked at her in confusion. "But if it's the same memory how will I know I've succeeded?"

"Well it will have a different perspective, won't it? Trust me. You'll know."

Ron gave her a dubious look. "I guess." Then he turned to Harry. "What do you think Harry?"

"Let's just pick a pleasant one."

"Bouncing ferret?"

"Perfect."

Ron leaned over Hermione's shoulder, studying the open book and went through the wand motions slowly. Hermione seemed to be having trouble deciding whether she was annoyed or enjoying his closeness. He finally straightened and gave a look to Harry, which silently asked if Harry was ready. Harry nodded.

"Legilimens."

Harry felt a little lightheaded but stayed on his feet. Ron was definitely doing something, right or wrong.

Ron laughed. "I saw it! It was like I was seeing it for the first time, from a different part of the hallway. Brilliant! Harry was closer than I was when it happened. If only we could have left Malfoy that way."

"And I didn't pass out!" Harry was obviously proud of himself.

"Well, it was a shared memory and you were letting Ron in. It will be harder on both of you when Harry fights it and if it's something that Harry doesn't want Ron to see it would be harder still. It can make one dizzy though so it was good that you were able to keep your feet. And Ron, you got it on your first attempt, that's quite remarkable."

Ron beamed. "Thanks, Hermione."

Harry frowned, slightly deflated. "So what's next?"

"A few more easy ones and then perhaps well try some memories that you don't share, but that you'll let Ron see and describe to him beforehand so he knows what to look for."

After a brief discussion they tried memories of their first time they met on the Express, their first flying lesson, Harry's first visit to the Burrow, and the final minutes of the World Cup. Harry noticed each time he got less and less dizzy. Ron noticed that the images he saw became clearer.

"Right then, Harry, you pick a memory that Ron does not share, but you don't mind him seeing, then tell him about it. Ron, you focus on wanting to see it, and then cast the spell."

Harry thought for a moment, briefly, he considered the time when he first saw Sirius in his dog form in Surrey but quickly vanquished that memory. He then settled on the day Hagrid showed up to tell him he was a wizard. Harry gave a brief description of the lighthouse and what happened there to Ron. He then nodded for Ron to go when he was ready.

"Legilimens."

The dizziness returned in great force, still Harry managed to stay standing. He was trying to focus on the memory as well as open his mind to Ron. There was an odd sensation like a finger poking into his brain. It subsided as Ron lowered his wand and staggered. Harry took a steadying step as well.

"Bloody Hell!" Ron took a drunken step and caught himself before he fell.

"Ron! Language!"

"That son of a-" Harry started to exclaim.

"Harry!" Hermione cut him off.

Ron looked at Harry confused. "Who me?"

"No. Snape. He could have eased me into this like Hermione is doing. But no, he just had to hit me with it all at once. Bastard."

Ron shrugged away the obvious assessment of the Potions professor.

Hermione interjected, "Alright that's enough about Professor Snape. No sense wasting energy or getting upset thinking about him. Harry will need to be calm when he tries to block Ron, if we get to that today. Why don't you pick some more memories, Harry?"

They tried Harry's memories about his first Diagon Alley trip and his Patronus lessons with Professor Lupin. Both were successful and improvement was immediate. Harry and Ron had started to perspire but the dizziness was much less than when they had started this session. Hermione let them have a short break.

Harry sat down heavily and then looked up to her. "When will I get to try the Legilimency end?"

"Well, it's more important for you to learn Occlumency. You need to learn how to block out V-Voldemort. Anyway, Ginny is only working on Occlumency as well. She has a history with magic affecting her mind as well you know or should. It was her idea for us to start working on this."

"Ah, I wondered about that. That is, why you started all this."

"A few more minutes rest and then we'll start again. When we do, Harry will think of a shared memory but not tell Ron what it is. Ron will then cast the spell and tell us if he saw what Harry was thinking."

A few minutes later Harry was again facing Ron. He had decided to think about the flying car incident, the first part at least which had been enjoyable enough. He'd try to leave out the Whomping Willow part. However, as Ron cast the spell that image of the blue Ford was wiped away. There was a montage of quickly flashing memories about Hermione, Hermione in the library, Hermione being attacked by the troll, Hermione in the library, Hermione at the Yule Ball, Hermione in the library, Hermione tied up underwater by the merpeople, Hermione in the library, Hermione petrified by the basilisk, Hermione in the library, Hermione kissing Harry on the cheek.

Harry fell to his knees and looked up to Ron. As Harry's eyes were able to focus, he saw that Ron was breathing hard but still standing. Ron's face was impassive.

Hermione spoke, "Alright Harry? Since Ron's mind was less focused on what information he was looking for it was going to be harder on you. I should have warned you."

She turned to Ron. "So did you see anything?"

"Yes, you."

"Me?" She turned to Harry. "Were you thinking of some memory of the three of us?"

"No, I was thinking about Mr. Weasley's car, when Ron and I took it to school from King's Cross. But then when Ron started the spell, I did see memories of you, a whole string of them."

"Really?" She obviously found this very fascinating and looked over at Ron. He shrugged.

She chewed her lower lip for a moment. "Right then. I think you have the gist of it all. You can practice some more on your own. I'm going to work with Ginny and Luna."

Harry watched her leave and then he turned back to Ron, who was looking at him quizzically. After Harry got back to his feet, they tried it six more times with rest periods in between each attempt. Two of those again ended up with images of Hermione flashing though both of their minds. The other four were more successful. This session took them into lunchtime.

At the kitchen table, Harry rubbed his temples, trying to massage away the dull throbbing. It did seem to help after a time and he finally started to register what Ron was saying, "-be here next week for Harry's party. Lately, he always seems up for a go at something new. I'm sure he'll want to try with Harry and me."

"Who?" asked Harry.

"Where've you been? Neville is coming in a few days for your party. I figure he can help us with the Occlumency stuff too."

"Please don't make a big deal out of my birthday." Harry really wouldn't mind a small party, but it was starting to sound like the Queen would be in attendance.

"Hah! Told you mate, we're all spoiling for a party. Besides a big deal is going to be made whether any of us want it to or not. Your even more famous now with the recent business concerning You-Know-Who. Dad's pulling a lot of favors and a lot of muscle to keep the Press away, but you know as well as I do how they are. Harry Potter's sixteenth birthday? It's going to be quite a time for everyone."

"Damn," swore Harry softly.

Ginny patted his hand. "Don't worry Harry. Dad can be very formidable where his family is concerned. He won't let anyone near you that shouldn't be while you're here."

Harry smiled at her. He knew the Weasleys, save Percy, all considered him family, but it was always nice to hear it directly from one of them. He flipped his hand over beneath hers and gave it a light squeeze. "Thanks."

She took her hand away slowly. "So what do you think about Hermione as a teacher? Is she as good as you are with Defense?"

"She's brilliant. Though I wonder how I'll do when I try to block Ron."

"It's difficult. I'm not having any luck. Luna is amazing at it. She won't tell us her secret though."

Luna looked up from her plate. "Yes I did. That is, I told you it isn't a secret. Hermione said it takes emotional control. I have that in droves."

Ginny wore a frustrated expression, as if they had had this discussion many times before. "But how did you get that control? You won't say."

"For someone like me, it's a necessity." Luna returned to her food and her body language indicated the conversation was over.

Harry and Ginny shared a look and then returned to their lunch as well. After lunch, they went back to the garden, but it was soon apparent that Harry and Ron were too tired to continue with the Legilimency, so they practiced some simpler DA spells. They wanted to go flying but figured they could at least spare themselves some of The Wrath of Hermione by working on magic of some other practical nature.

*

Harry crawled into bed exhausted that night. His head was pounding and he wondered if they were doing any permanent damage with this mind magic they were working on. As he lay back, he noticed the buzzing was again back. In fact, it seemed even louder. He sighed and looked over in the darkness to where his wand lay on the table.

"Luminos," he said without bothering to pick it up.

The dim light from his wand tip did not reveal any insects flying around his head. Harry waited for the buzzing to subside as it had the previous night but after several minutes, he could not take it anymore and sat up in the bed. The buzzing faded but was still audible. Like a bloodhound on a scent, he moved his head back and forth trying to figure out where it was coming from. It did seem the loudest near the headboard of the bed he was in, but there was nothing there that might produce the sound. He rapped at the smooth wood of the headboard. For what appeared to be a solid piece of oak, it sounded pretty hollow. Harry smiled but then wondered how or even if he should try to open whatever it was. He put his ear to it. The buzzing was definitely coming from within.

Harry reached over and picked up his wand, he tried Alohomorha and every other unlocking and opening spell he could think of, nothing happened. He briefly considered brute force but was fairly certain the twins would have left some security measures behind and dismissed the idea.

He had one last thought before giving up. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

A door about the size of a shoebox appeared and opened just a crack. Harry smiled and reached for it, slowly opening it completely. There were three pink cords and five brownish ones. The pink ones reminded Harry of Fred and George's extendable ears or at least an end of them. The brown ones reminded him of beef jerky. There were labels on each, designating different rooms of the house. As Harry touched one of the brown ones, it crumbled away as if made of ash. He reached for one of the pink ones, it was labeled 'kitchen.' He put it to his ear but there was no sound coming from it. He reached for the next pink one, labeled 'Ginny.' He could immediately tell that this was where the buzzing was coming from. It was vibrating in his hand.

Harry had a pretty good guess what this all was. Fred and George had bugged the house. The Extendable Ear in his hand was Ginny's room. The brown cords going to other rooms had probably been damaged when those rooms in the house were remodeled and the ends had shriveled up. The pink ones were still in working order. He looked at the buzzing end in his hand. He very much wanted to test his theory but he also remembered the incident with the pensieve in Snape's dungeon. He had let his curiosity get the better of his judgment then and had paid for it. Still, Hermione and Ginny were his friends. Snape, most definitely, was not. They would understand wouldn't they? He would check and see if this truly was Ginny's room and then he would put it away. Perhaps even tell her about it so that she wouldn't have her privacy so invaded in the future. He would have to make her promise not to tell Fred and George how she found out though. He didn't even want to try and imagine their revenge for informing on them.

Rationalization truly was its own kind of magic. He put the end to his ear.

Hermione's voice sounded as if he were right next to her, "- last very long. Was it Ron?"

Ginny's voice responded, equally clear, half amused, half irritated, "Ron? Pfft! You really don't know me at all do you?"

"Well then, what? I thought you liked him."

"I did. I do I mean, but there are certain realities."

"Like what?"

"Like ..." Ginny hesitated.

"What?" Hermione was growing impatient.

"He kisses like a wet mop." Harry sniggered. Poor Dean.

"Ginny, that's horrid!"

"You're telling me. I'm the one who has to endure it." Harry could picture Ginny's eyes rolling.

"No, not that, how can you stop seeing someone just because they don't kiss well?"

Ginny snorted a laugh. "How could you keep seeing someone that didn't?"

"Well ... I suppose I would try to teach them how to do it better."

Ginny started to laugh hysterically. The volume in his ear made Harry wince. He knew he should put the end down as he now knew this was Ginny's room, but...

Hermione continued, sounding completely mystified, "I don't see what's so funny."

Ginny recovered herself just enough to say, "You want me to tell Dean he needs kissing lessons? He'd never speak to me again. And as I said, I do like him. He can be very clever."

"So why not make a suggestion that he do things a little different?"

"Your two best friends are teenage boys. Can you see anyone telling either of them they need kissing lessons?" Harry snorted. It was too true. Ron would never stand for that. Harry felt he had done well enough with Cho. He certainly didn't need lessons.

"I suppose not. Still though, don't you think he'll be hurt when you say you want to stop seeing him? Won't that harm your friendship?"

"Actually, I imagine he'll be relieved. I don't give a damn what Ron thinks about who I date, but Dean has made it pretty clear he doesn't look forward to seeing Ron any time soon." Ginny seemed a little disgusted with Dean on that point.

"Ron wasn't very happy on the Express, was he?"

"Like I said, I don't give a damn. But I suppose I need to find someone with the guts to face up to him too. Hmph, two boyfriends so far and neither of them was worth a toss at snogging." Again, Ginny's disgust was evident.

"Michael wasn't any good either?" Harry smiled at the eagerness of Hermione's question.

"Well, he didn't try to drown me at least."

"Eew, Ginny!" Hermione shrieked in a very un-Hermione-like manner.

"Sorry." But Ginny didn't sound sorry. "Perhaps Dean has a medical condition or something and his mouth is always that wet."

"Eew, Ginny!"

"But as for Michael, he was kind of...I dunno, methodical, like he learned from a book or something."

A different laugh suddenly sounded. Harry guessed it was Luna, though she had been very quiet until now.

On Harry's mental cue, Luna broke into the conversation, still laughing, "Of course he learned it from a book. He's Ravenclaw."

"Yes, well, it got so boring after a while that I started timing him. Exactly two minutes into a snog, he would try to start with the tongue. It was bloody clockwork. Luna, are you trying to say that all Ravenclaw boys will stink at kissing?"

Luna giggled, "I suppose it depends on what book they learn it out of."

"Great, that narrows our choices down by a third. Only Gryffindor or Hufflepuff are left."

"What about Slytherin?" Hermione offered weakly.

"You're a nutter. Even if there were a Slytherin that was even remotely attractive, you're Muggle-born, and I'm a Weasley. Never happen."

"Well Dumbledore did say we needed to try and work together." Hermione said doubtfully.

"That's fine and good, and when the time comes, I will try to work with them as best I can, may even be pleasant about it as long as they are. Doesn't mean I want to snog any of those gits."

"So who do you think might be a good at kissing in Gryffindor or Hufflepuff?" Harry smiled at Hermione's tone. She really seemed to be enjoying the subject.

"I'm obviously not one to ask, two boyfriends not worth a toss, remember?"

"Luna, what do you think?" asked Hermione.

"Ron." Ron?

"Ron? Ron what?" Hermione sounded confused.

"I imagine Ron is a good kisser."

"Ron Weasley?" Yeah, Ron Weasley?

"Yes, Ginny's brother."

Ginny snorted a short laugh. "If I may be permitted to quote Hermione, 'Eew!'"

"Quiet Ginny! I want to hear Luna's reasoning." The tone in Hermione's voice was as anxious as if Luna had somehow received Hermione's pending OWL results.

"Well, he's really very funny. I still laugh when I think of the baboon's backside joke he made when we met," Luna spoke wistfully and then giggled, "Baboon's backside, marvelous!"

There was a long pause as if Hermione and Ginny were expecting more.

Hermione obviously was. "And?"

"Well, I think you have to have to have a good sense of humor to kiss well. I mean kissing is a rather silly thing for two people to do to each other. Don't you think?"

"No!" Hermione and Ginny answered in unison and then started laughing at their mutual enthusiasm on the subject.

Luna continued, as if she hadn't heard their answer, "I mean pressing lips together, tongues too. It's just ridiculous."

"So you don't think about snogging at all?" Ginny was incredulous.

"I didn't say that. I'm rather silly and ridiculous myself."

"You don't say," giggled Ginny.

Luna laughed in response.

Ginny stopped giggling. "So who do you think about snogging? Ron?"

Luna answered matter-of-factly, "Yes, actually."

"'Eew' again." Harry imagined Ginny covering her ears.

"But he's with Susan!" Hermione's indignation started Ginny giggling again.

Harry could visualize Luna shrugging as she said, "That won't last."

Hermione calmed a bit. "It won't?"

"They're not right for each other."

"And you're right for him?" Ginny asked.

"I didn't say that. They just look wrong."

"Well she's definitely everything he's ever wanted, a nice pretty package." Harry thought for a moment Hermione sounded a little bitter.

Ginny spoke, "Susan's nice enough, can't really blame her for wanting to pretty up a bit. Besides, any one of us in this room could look as good or better if we wanted."

"I'm not interested in someone who's only interested in my looks. Viktor asked me to the ball as I was. He was very gallant."

"But was he a good kisser?" Ginny asked with great interest.

"We've never really kissed." Hermione's tone tried to imply that her statement wasn't important. It didn't work.

"What the Hell does that mean? 'Never really kissed.'"

"It means we never really kissed."

"You cheeked him, didn't you?" asked Ginny knowingly.

"I what-ed him?"

"He was going to kiss you on the lips but you turned at the last moment and gave him your cheek."

"Well ... yes. I want my first real kiss to be very special and I thought I was a little young then."

"I'm not much older now than you were. Am I some sort of scarlet woman by your reckoning? After all, I've fully snogged two boys." Ginny sounded affronted.

"Oh no, Ginny! I didn't mean..."

"Easy there, I was just teasing you," laughed Ginny genuinely. "So who is this special person going to be?"

"I don't know. Haven't given it much thought."

"You're a bloody liar Hermione, and a bad one at that. Viktor?"

"Well, no. I mean even if I really felt that way about him, he's in Bulgaria, and things being the way they are it's not really safe for one of us to go to the other. And besides, we're just friends really."

"Friends who send each other rare and expensive books on Legilimency and Occlumency. Riiight. So who then? You're not very good at this kind of thing are you? You could have just said Viktor and the talk would have been on to the next question. Now you have to say who you think about snogging that isn't Viktor."

"I don't have to do anything of the sort."

"Oh come on, Hermione." Yeah, come on, Hermione. "Luna admitted who she thought about and I must reiterate, 'Eew.'"

"You haven't said who you want to be your next, er,... victim."

Ginny laughed, "I will. After you."

"Well, I don't really want -"

"Is it Harry?" asked Ginny. Harry sat up a little straighter and pressed the end into his ear a little harder.

"Harry?! Heavens no!" Harry was both relieved and a little insulted at the same time. What's so wrong with me?

"When I told you that I had given up on him, you seemed pretty relieved. I guess maybe I thought you wanted him for yourself."

"You really think I'm that awful and petty a person?" Hermione pouted.

"No, no, I really don't." Ginny's shame was evident. "But you should hear some of the things the other girls in my year do to each other when it comes to boys. I guess it makes me think less of everyone. But there's no excuse for thinking that of you. Sorry."

"I was relieved that you were going to stop beating up on yourself about him, that's all." Harry felt a flush of guilt.

"I know that. I really do, and I am sorry. Honestly. I shouldn't have said that. Maybe I'm still a little touchy on the subject." Harry frowned, wondering what exactly that meant.

"It's alright. Harry's nice and cute and brave and a very wonderful person but I've know him now, what? Five years? Since before I thought about boys in that way. He's family."

"So that leaves Ron out too, then. Good. I was running out of 'Eew's."

"Well, where Harry might actually consider kissing me because he has some depth of character and appreciates it in others, Ron would never. Only likes the pretty ones, doesn't he?"

"He might surprise you." Ginny sounded like she knew something

"Unlikely."

"So?" Ginny prompted impatiently.

"So ... what?"

"So who do you want to snog?"

There was a pause followed by some indistinct sounds before Hermione answered, "Oh, well, uhm, fine, Ron I suppose."

"Ah, figured I'd need one more so I saved it. 'Eew.'"

Harry had no interest in Hermione at all, but he briefly wondered why she would pick Ron over him. She had after all given quite a list of things to like about him and had not bothered to give a list for Ron.

"Stop it Ginny. It's not like I know a lot of other boys at the moment. Can we please talk about something else now?"

"Alright then." Ginny sounded quite smug.

"Wait! I mean, you still have to tell us who you want." Hermione suddenly remembered.

"But you want to change the subject, yes?" Ginny teased.

"After you tell us."

"Well, I do still sometimes wonder if Harry is any good at it." Ginny made the statement with no inflection.

"I thought you were over him."

"I am. Not talking about marrying the boy....anymore. After all that time I spent crushing on him, I just wonder..." Marrying? Harry gulped.

"Cho said he's an awful kisser," Luna had rejoined the conversation. Harry frowned in anger. I'm an awful kisser? But I thought... And it's common talk among the female population of Hogwarts?

"How would she know? She never stopped crying long enough to even try to enjoy it." Harry smiled a silent thanks to Hermione.

"I'm just telling you what she said. Besides, Ginny said it herself; she seems to have a knack for picking boys who don't kiss well. So Harry probably doesn't."

Ginny sighed loudly. "She's right."

"But then if you look at it statistically then the probability is that he is a good at it. You picked two bad ones now you're due for a good one." Again, Harry smiled at Hermione defending him.

Ginny snorted, "Statistics and snogging have nothing to do with each other. It's more like a momentum thing I believe. I'm on a bad kisser roll."

"So you think Harry is probably a bad kisser?" Hermione's faltering tone made Harry's stomach lurch.

"Yeah, I'd have to say so. It's my curse." Harry sat aghast in the dim light of his wand.

"That's just silly." Yeah, Silly.

"Maybe, but since Harry would never want to kiss me then it's better for me to think of him that way. I'd hate to know that he was brilliant at it." Ginny laughed softly.

"I suppose I can see the logic in that." Harry could imagine Hermione slowly nodding her head as she spoke. So much for my best friend defending me.

"Poor Harry," Hermione added, which was all Harry could take. He pulled the Extendable Ear away and looked at it with grim fascination as if it were a bloodied knife that he had just pulled from his body. It resumed buzzing and it seemed like it was insisting that he listen some more, but he placed it back in the compartment and cast a Silencing Charm. He didn't really think it would work, but the buzzing faded.

Harry had an irrational urge to go to Ginny's room, grab and then kiss each of the girls in turn to show them what he could do. He quickly fought the urge down realizing how very inane and insane the notion was. He then considered the possibility that Cho was right; perhaps he was a terrible kisser. That night, he again had trouble sleeping but for an altogether different reason.