Harry Potter and the Power Unknown

~Chapter Nine: Back to Occlumency~

The next morning Professor McGonagall handed out the class schedules and, as they all expected, Hermione had the fullest load out of any of the 6^th years. In fact, the only class she dropped was Astronomy. Harry and Ron had just about the same schedule, except Ron was not taking Potions.

"Now I wish I would have tried a little harder on my Potions O.W.L. since Snape isn't teaching it anymore," Ron mentioned over breakfast. "I thought I was going to be rid of him once and for all, but now I'm stuck with him teaching my favorite subject."

"Well, at least Dumbledore's letting us reform the DA," said Hermione. "Plus, we won't have to hide it from anyone this year, which I think will make the experience that much more enjoyable."

"Come on, we're going to be late for Potions," Harry said to Hermione. "See you next period, Ron?"

"Yeah, sure," Ron replied grumpily.

Harry and Hermione headed down to the dungeons for Potions, and when they reached the classroom and opened the door, they both gave gasps of surprise at the world they had just stepped in. The classroom barred no resemblance to Professor Snape's gloomy, dank environment; potion recipes and shelves of smoking and bubbling liquid in jars covered the walls, and a poster of potions ingredients behind the professor's desk that Harry thought looked a lot like the muggle periodic table of elements. The classroom was surprisingly bathed in sunlight as well, which seemed to be coming from small, slotted windows at the top of the back wall that Harry had not known existed. Harry and Hermione looked around in awe until someone spoke from the front of the room.

"When the two of you decide to return to Earth I would love to have you join us," said Professor Venenum.

"Sorry, Professor!" squeaked Hermione, and she and Harry both took their seats.

Erus Venenum was a young man, probably no older than thirty-five by Harry's estimate. His chin-length dirty blonde hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, and his bright blue eyes shone out through loose strands of hair hanging over his face. Harry had not seen Hermione look so enthralled with a teacher since Lockhart in their second year; in fact, he wanted to tell her to stop drooling all over herself, but he remembered how respectful she was of his idiocy around Cho. And besides, he thought, making fun of Hermione is more Ron's job, anyway. Harry laughed to himself at what Ron's reaction might be if he saw Hermione staring at Professor Venenum the way she was.

"In case anyone was not paying attention last night at dinner," the professor began, "my name is Erus Venenum. I've never really like my name, but I am stuck with it due to the fact that my parents love Latin. My name is quite a mouthful, however, so you may call me Professor Ven if you would like. Very well; shall we press on then?"

At the end of the period, Harry felt he had just experienced the best potions lesson of his wizarding life. Just like his Potions O.W.L., Harry's mind was clear and focused on the task at hand without Snape's presence, and he told Ron later that he actually enjoyed himself.

Harry, Ron and Hermione then headed out to the grounds together for Care for Magical Creatures. Even though Harry knew he would be learning about some very interesting creatures at NEWT level, he admitted that he only took the class because Hagrid was teaching it; now he had no interest in the class despite the high caliber of Grubbly-Plank's teaching. Harry was also disappointed to see that they still shared the period with the Slytherins; Harry felt that Malfoy would have certainly dropped this class if it weren't for the fact that Malfoy enjoyed tormenting Hagrid so much, and this was the only reason Harry was glad that Hagrid was not around.

After Care for Magical Creatures, Ron and Harry had a free period while Hermione headed to Arithmancy, then the three of them headed down to lunch. Most of the sixth year Gryffindors spent the time discussing what Snape would be like in their upcoming Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Harry and Ron ate as slowly as their hunger would allow them so they could stall having to go to class, but Hermione's nagging about being late finally inspired them to head to class. Even though Harry was dreading having Snape as a teacher once more, he at least felt confident in the subject matter and felt that Snape couldn't sabotage him as he did so often in Potions.

The three of them entered the classroom and sat towards the back. Harry looked around and was relieved to see a classroom full of only Gryffindors, many of whom were in the DA. Snape was looking extraordinarily smug, even more than usual, perhaps because he finally had the job he wanted for over six years. Snape began criticism almost immediately.

"For a sixth year class, you are extremely behind in defensive spells. I attribute this partially to your substandard teaching, but knowing this group it is also most likely due to lack of intelligence," he said, a wide grin spreading across his face. "I have it from the headmaster that Mr. Potter took it upon himself last year to teach many of you some simple yet useless spells..."

"They weren't simple and they weren't useless!" argued Parvati.

"Do not interrupt me, Miss Patil!" Snape yelled. "I am sorry to disappoint you, but Mr. Potter will not be teaching this class. We will begin this year by learning defense rather than worthless jinxes. Turn to page twenty, and someone tell me what the most powerful blocking spells are."

After class the disgruntled Gryffindor sixth years filed into the hallway, most complaining that Snape was worse now than he was teaching Potions. Harry had a feeling that Snape was going to torment him even more now because he would want to challenge Harry's knowledge of Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Bring it on, Harry thought, but then remembered he was supposed to control his temper. How am I supposed to do that with Snape goading me all the time? he asked himself.

Ron and Hermione joined Neville to head to the greenhouses for Herbology, and since Harry opted not to take this class, he headed for Lupin's private office.

"Come in, Harry," came Lupin's voice from behind the door as Harry knocked.

"How did you know it was me?" Harry asked as he walked into the office.

"Even though the full moon just passed, I still have heightened senses," Lupin answered. "One benefit of being a werewolf is the fact that I am very hard to sneak up on. What's on your mind?"

"I know we have occulmency tomorrow night," Harry began, "but I was wondering if we could move it to after my Charms class and before dinner. I have a free period then, so that way I won't be so busy in the evening once Quiddich season starts."

"I think that would be fine," said Lupin. "Did you figure out a time for the DA to meet?"

Harry shook his head. "No, but do you really think we need it now that Snape is Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"

Lupin pursed his lips at the mention of Snape and Harry got the impression that Dumbledore's decision to appoint Snape in that position did not sit well with Lupin. "Well, extra practice never hurt anyone," Lupin said finally. "How are you doing with everything else?"

"Fine, I guess," Harry shrugged. "I mean, learning you can blow up the entire school with just anger can mellow you out, even if it is hard to grasp."

Lupin smiled and said, "I know, Harry, but try not to think about it."

Harry nodded, then pulled out his occlumency book Hermione gave him for his birthday and showed it to Lupin. "I can't find anything about turning off my emotions in here," he said.

"You don't need to turn them completely off, Harry," Lupin answered as he flipped through the book, "you just need to control them. Here, read this chapter." Lupin stopped on a chapter entitled "Emotion strain: Keeping Your Emotions From Making You Emotional".

Harry and Lupin sat for a while longer, talking about school, Quiddich and other things. Harry asked Lupin what he thought of Professor Ven, but Lupin responded by saying he did not know much about him at all. At the end of the free period, Harry said goodbye and was almost out the door when Lupin called back at him.

"Hold on, Harry, you forgot your book."

"Oh, right. Thanks," Harry said. Lupin stood and held the book out and Harry walked toward him to retrieve it. When he was a few feet from Lupin, Harry held out his hand to take the book when suddenly it flew out of Lupin's grasp and into Harry's outstretched hand. They both stood there in shock, staring at the book.

"But... what just happened?" said a bewildered Harry. "I didn't say accio or anything... I didn't even think it."

Lupin looked just as puzzled. "Wandless magic is not unheard of," he said, "but it never manifests itself this early in someone. This is a good sign, though. It means the power in you can obey your commands, whether you are aware of those commands or not. Maybe we can work on this as well as occlumency tomorrow."

"Er... okay," said Harry uncertainly. "Well, bye then," he said, and then he left the office and proceeded to the Great hall for dinner.

Harry met up with Ron and Hermione a few moments later, both of whom were covered in dirt and smelling slightly of dragon dung. They sat down at the Gryffindor table next to Neville (who also smelled a little), Seamus and Ginny.

"Uck, Ron, you stink," said Ginny, waving her hand in front of her nose as her brother took a seat next to her. "What did you do, bathe in dragon crap?"

Ron glared at his sister and said, "You try repotting plants that vomit their own soil and fertilizer on you and see how you like it."

During dinner, Harry wasted no time in telling his two best friends what happened in Lupin's office. Ron seemed just as shocked as Harry was, but surprisingly Hermione seemed unphased by the information.

"Well, you've done wandless magic before, Harry," she told him.

"No I haven't," Harry argued at the same moment Ron said, "No he hasn't!"

Hermione continued eating and without looking up she said, "Yes, you have. You practically melted Voldemort - for crying out loud, Ron! - in your first year..."

"But that was my mum's protection..." Harry protested, but Hermione plunged on.

"You blew up your aunt in third year, and you can break glass and shake desks. Harry, you shook the entire drawing room at Grimmauld Place!"

Harry was beginning to feel aggravated now. "But all of that is just my emotions out of control! It's not the same as what happened in Lupin's office; It has never obeyed a 'command'."

Hermione smiled. "Yes, it has," she said. "Your emotions are unconscious commands. The magic you perform when you're angry is just a manifestation of that feeling."

Harry looked at Ron, hoping he would pipe up and say how mental Hermione was, but Ron looked as if he thought she was right. "You don't actually agree with her, do you?" Harry demanded of Ron.

"Well, it does make sense, Harry," Ron replied cautiously. "And the fact that the book came when you called for it is a sign that you are gaining more control over your powers."

"But I didn't call the book!" Harry insisted.

"You did unconsciously, Harry, and Ron is right," said Hermione. "This may be a good sign. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you."

Harry decided it would be a waste of energy to argue anymore, so he dropped the subject. They finished dinner, then headed up to Gryffindor tower and almost immediately went to bed. Harry dreaded the following afternoon, but he knew he had to clear his mind before going to bed, so as he lay awake in his four-poster, he tried to think of nothing and eventually drifted off to sleep.

The next day was basically the same as the last, except they all had different classes. Wednesday and Friday held the same schedule as Monday, but Tuesday and Thursday held the other classes, which were all double periods since they were held only twice a week. Harry's schedule had him in Double Transfiguration in the morning, then a free period, followed by lunch, Double Charms and another free period.

Harry felt his first Transfiguration class of the year was the hardest he ever had. Professor McGonigall told the class that she would be starting them on human transfigurations.

"Not everyone can be an animagus," she began, "so we will evaluate all the sixth years throughout the school year, and if you meet the standard you will attend a special NEWT class in your seventh year, focusing primarily on animagi." Everyone looked around curiously, no doubt wondering who might be chosen. "Meanwhile," McGonigall continued, "we will focus on human transfiguration of another sort. First we will work on defense tactics, such as transfiguring yourself into a statue or a suit of armor to conceal you from enemies."

The class spent most of the double period taking notes and listening to McGonagall's warnings about how dangerous human transfiguration can be. After the end of the lesson, Ron and Harry had a free period while Hermione headed off to Double Ancient Ruins. Harry and Ron decided to play a game of wizard's chess in the library despite Hermione's nags to get ahead in their schoolwork. Hermione returned later, and following lunch the three of them headed to Double Charms with Professor Flitwick. Most of the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs were happy to find out that Flitwick would be challenging their practical skills; all examinations would be very similar to the practical exam on OWLs. Hermione seemed torn between disappointment and approval but Ron told her, "Oh come on, Hermione, you know you're going to read the book anyway."

"Well, you should too, you know," Hermione shot back.

"Yeah, right!" laughed Ron. "I don't even read when I'm supposed to, so why would I read now that I don't even have to? Hey Harry, where are you going?"

Harry began walking toward the Grand Staircase, then he stopped to answer Ron's question. "To Lupin's office. I have occlumency, remember?"

"You're not taking History of Magic?" Hermione asked.

"No, and why are you taking it, Ron?" Harry asked, knowing that History of Magic was probably the most boring subject anyone could possibly come up with.

"Well, I... er... Mum wanted me to take an extra class..." Ron replied, red creeping up his ears. Harry had a sneaking suspicion that Ron had taken the class so he could have extra time with Hermione, but he kept his opinion to himself.

"See you at dinner, then," he said, and he turned to the staircase and ascended, heading for Lupin's office once again.

Once there, Harry knocked on Lupin's door and entered the office, his mind on what Lupin might have discovered about his powers.

"Hello, Harry," Lupin said. "Ready to begin?" Harry shrugged, so Lupin said, "I know Snape gave you a hard time about occlumency, Harry, but it is not as difficult as you might think. The key is to, of course, keep your mind free of any thoughts or emotions that Voldemort might want to exploit. This is much more difficult than it sounds, especially for you, so to begin you might try focusing on one random thought to display. For instance, I am going to try to break into your mind, so I want you to focus on a lie or an unimportant memory, like what you ate for breakfast or something along those lines."

Harry chuckled at the thought of Voldemort trying to extract information from his mind and getting only thoughts of eggs and toast.

"Now, if you can master this task," Lupin continued, "then we can move on to something a little more fun. Eventually I want your mind to be completely blank, but if you find I have broken in too far, try to use magic without your wand. Force me or any other intruder out of your mind by force of sheer will. You have already shown that your magic can be performed out of your subconscious, so try to bring those commands to the surface."

"How am I supposed to learn to do that, though?" Harry asked.

Lupin thought for a moment then said, "I think you won't need to learn it at all; Your power is already there. Are you ready now?"

"I think so," Harry answered, and he hurried to clear his mind.

Lupin pointed his wand at Harry and said, "Legilimens!"

He was eleven, watching Uncle Vernon burn his Hogwarts letters... he was twelve, looking at a pale and unconscious Ginny Weasley holding a black diary... he was fourteen, shaking on the ground in fear as the death eaters laughed above him...

"Harry? Harry! Stand up." Lupin was kneeling next to him, holding out a hand to help him up. Harry had ended up on the floor in Lupin's office, covered in icy sweat from the memory of the graveyard. He took Lupin's hand, struggled to his feet on shaky legs, and willed his body to stop trembling.

"Are you alright?" Lupin asked. Harry nodded, so Lupin said, "Rest for a moment, and then we will try again. You seemed to not focus on anything, so you need something strong, even if it's a lie."

Harry thought about what he could possibly use to distract his mind- Quiddich was his first thought, but Quiddich led to thoughts and memories of Umbridge and caused his insides to boil with anger and hatred. A few minutes passed, and Harry finally decided to make up a fake memory involving his Aunt and Uncle.

"Okay, I'm ready now," he said.

"Very well," answered Lupin, and he pointed his wand at Harry once more and said, "Legilimens!"

Harry squinted in concentration, trying to project his fake memory onto Lupin, but it did not take long for Lupin to break through, and Harry's memories came spilling out again.

Harry was eight, curled in a fetal position on the playground as Dudley and Malcolm kicked him... he was thirteen, watching helplessly as Wormtail scurried away into the forest... he was fifteen, running, reaching for Sirius as he fell...

Harry's knees hit the ground just as Lupin lifted the spell, and even though Lupin had tried to break the connection, he was trapped in Harry's mind as Harry was stuck in a kind of trance.

In his mind, Harry fell through the arch with Sirius in his 'memory', and he looked down to see Sirius sprawled out on a stone floor, but... Sirius was breathing....

"Sirius!"

There was a loud crash as Harry forced Lupin from his mind and sent him flying across the room where he crashed into his desk. Harry stood up and rushed over to Lupin.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to... what?" he asked, seeing Lupin's shocked face.

"Did you see that?" Lupin asked.

"See what?"

"Sirius... alive..."

"Yeah, but that's not my memory... I never fell through the archway with him... I thought it was just a dream I don't remember. I have had so many dreams about Sirius... You... you don't think it's an actual memory, do you? Like, Voldemort's memory or something?"

Lupin seemed to be lost in thought, then replied, "That is entirely possible since we know you two are connected."

"But he... I mean... Sirius can't be... alive, can he?"

Lupin smiled uncertainly. "No, I don't think so, Harry," he said, but he sounded as if he were trying to convince himself as well as Harry. "That's enough for tonight, I think. Same time next week?"

Harry nodded, then turned and headed for Gryffindor tower, having completely forgotten about dinner. He can't be alive, Harry thought. It must be another trick of Voldemort's or something.

Once he reached the common room, Harry sat in front of the fire in the large armchair and decided that the "memory" must have been a dream he didn't remember.

Maybe it wasn't Sirius at all, he thought.

Since everyone was at dinner the common room was completely deserted, for which Harry was supremely grateful. He sat thinking about occlumency in front of the fire when the portrait door opened and Ginny Weasley came walking into the room.

"Why aren't you at dinner, Harry?" she asked once she spotted him in the armchair.

"I'm not hungry," Harry lied.

"Oh, that's too bad," Ginny replied pretending to be disappointed, "because I told Dobby to bring some dinner up for you here."

Harry looked up to see Ginny smiling at him. Her red hair reflected the red light of the fire, and she seemed to glow from the light surrounding her. Dobby soon came up with platters of food, so Harry thanked him and began to eat.

"Wow, I can really see how not hungry you were," Ginny said with a smirk. "Mind if I join you?"

"Not at all," Harry replied, so she sat on the squashy armchair next to his. After a while, Harry's thoughts turned back to Sirius and he lost track of what he was doing. Ginny watched him poke at his food for a few minutes then reached over and put her hand on his. "Okay, Harry," she said. "What's the problem?"

"Huh?" he said, now distracted by her hand on his.

"What's wrong?"

His first instinct was to say nothing, but he blurted out the truth before he could stop himself. "I had a vision of Sirius a little while ago during occlumency. He was alive, Ginny."

"What?" Apparently, this was the last answer Ginny was expecting.

"I saw him, alive but on a stone floor in a dark place," explained Harry. "It couldn't have been real, could it?" He looked at her with pleading eyes, and her expression softened.

She answered him softly, her voice full of pity, "I don't think so, Harry. But if it wasn't your memory, then whose was it?"

Harry shrugged. "It was probably another trick of Voldemort's." Ginny tried (and failed) to hide her shudder at the name. "Listen, Ginny," Harry said, looking her in the eyes, "could you not, I mean... could we keep this between us?"

"Absolutely," she replied without hesitation.

"Thanks." Harry stood up and said, "I'm going to bed, I think. I'll let you know what I find out, if anything. Thanks for... well, thanks."

"It's okay, Harry," Ginny answered. She stood up as well, gave Harry a quick hug (causing his stomach to leap into his throat) and headed back through the portrait hole.

Harry sighed and headed for his dormitory. He changed then got into his four-poster, closed the hangings and put a silencing charm on them. Somehow, Harry knew that tonight his dreams would be less than pleasant. He felt a little guilty about not wanting to tell Ron and Hermione about what he saw, but he knew what they would tell him and he didn't want to hear it. He wanted to believe Sirius was alive because in his heart he knew that no matter how hard he tried, he would never be able to truly let Sirius go.