Occlumency
“I don’t see what the big deal is.” Hermione and Draco were hiding in the astronomy tower, avoiding the snow falling outside. “He didn’t freak out nearly this much when you found out.”
“I’ve also known occlumency since I was a kid. Harry’s going to let the secret out the first time a seventh year uses the spell on him.”
“You two are talking like it’s some national secret.”
“Hermione, Severus switched sides. That sort of thing attracts enemies. Tell people he’s got a muggle born daughter who’s best friends with scar head and you might as well just paint a bulls eye on your back.”
“You think it will be that bad?”
“I think it depends how far He gets.”
They sat with a thermos of hot chocolate between them, taking turns drinking out of the lid.
“Can you really do occlumency?”
“Yeah, try it.” Draco said. Hermione stared back. “I know you know the spell, it’s fine.”
Hermione pulled out her wand, pointed it at Draco. “legilimens.” Hermione said. It felt funny, like she was looking through his eyes for a second, like she could see herself staring back, then static. She saw nothing but a grey and white screen, like when your TV is on the frits. Admittedly, she had never tried the spell before and wasn’t very good at it, but it was still impressive. She didn’t know anyone, except a few adults who could do occlumency.
“I can’t do it, it’s too hard.” Harry said. “I need a break, we’ve been doing this for hours.”
“We will keep doing it until you get it right.” Snape pointed his wand at Harry, tried the spell again and there was a flood of images. Harry and Cho, the dream he’d had with the snake, catching the snitch, Snape kissing Hermione on the forehead that night.
“Concentrate!” Snape yelled, dropping his wand again.
“What does it matter, I don’t know anything the dark lord would care about!”
“Nothing?” Snape spat. “What about your weaknesses, how to get in and out of Hogwarts unseen, what Dumbledore is up to, what about Hermione?”
Harry sighed and sat down. He was always on about this, night after night. Hermione this and Hermione that, ever since Harry had found out Snape was her biological father. “Can’t you drop it? I’m not going to do anything about it, even if I wish I could.”
“Hermione shouldn’t have told you. She’s put her life in the hands of a fifteen year old with a mental connection to the dark lord. You’re going to get us all killed.”
“He’s not after you,” Harry crossed his arms. “He’s after me, remember?”
“Stupid boy, he’s after all of us. He would destroy every man woman and child who opposed him if he had the chance. And through you he would know how to do it, unless you learn to block him out.”
“How? How could he get to us?”
“With me.” Severus said, “He would take Hermione from me, and I would tear the world apart to get her back. I would do anything he asked to keep her safe.”
Harry’s eyes widened. He sat frozen for a second. “Anything?”
“Without a second thought.” Snape stared back at him, his dark eyes glinting wildly in the candlelight.
Harry swallowed. “Do the spell again.”
Snape raised his wand once more.