Mine

[33]

I was in Snape's office with Draco after classes, just as Snape had instructed.

"I began working with Mr. Malfoy to train him in occlumency and he mentioned that you had already learned the skill." Snape said as he stood before us. "I have included you because as I've seen in his memories you two are...quite close. You may have an easier time explaining to him how to guard his mind. Seeing as you've said you also learned legilimency, I may have you delve into his mind. How confident are you with your skills?"

"I – uh, my father says I've done very well. I couldn't be sure just how well though, sir." I said quietly.

"Very well. We will start with seeing how well you can resist." Snape said, taking a step closer to me. "Legilimens."

I stared back at Snape calmly as I felt the weird feeling that someone was watching me. It was subtle enough that if you didn't know or you weren't paying attention, you could easily miss it. It was easier to use occlumency when you knew that someone was attempting to break into your mind.

Snape broke his stare after maybe half a minute, nodding in approval. "I saw nothing."

I glanced over at Draco, seeing him nodding a bit from being impressed. "So, how do you brace your mind to resist?" He asked.

I was about to respond to Draco when I felt that small sensation once again, my mental walls immediately going up. I turned my head towards Snape, feeling proud when I saw the slight smirk on his face that showed I had impressed him.

"Very good, Miss Brooks." He nodded. "It's easier to block the effects of legilimency when you are expecting it, but you blocked me once again when you weren't expecting it."

"Thank you." I said, my eyes turning back to Draco. "It all comes down to self-control. The way my father started me and Grant off was by telling us to tense up and just focus on blocking out everything. Any thoughts, memories, whatever tries to invade your mind, just start off by trying to push it all out and trying to strip yourself of any emotion."

"Okay." Draco said, nodding slowly. His eyes hardened slightly as he seemed to be attempting to do as I said.

"I'll allow you, Miss Brooks." Snape said, gesturing towards Draco.

I took in a deep breath as I turned to face my boyfriend. I had successfully used legilimency on my brother and father over the summer during our training. With my father, obviously being more skilled, he'd opened up his mind to allow me to see specific memories. I raised my wand, staring Draco in the eyes as I whispered, "Legilimens."

I immediately was thrown into Draco's memories, pushing through them layer by layer. I saw him as a young child, riding around on a broomstick, his mother beaming from behind him. I saw tense family dinners and his father scolding him for doing something he didn't like. I saw him sitting beneath the Sorting Hat and then on the Quidditch field during a game. Seeing as he had yet to block me out, I kept pushing further, hoping he would start resisting. There was Draco and Blaise, laughing in the courtyard. Me and Draco in the Room of Requirement during our fifth year. Then I saw a memory I hadn't been expecting to see. It may have been an invasion of privacy, but I didn't push past it.

The face of Lord Voldemort was in my mind, almost startling me out of Draco's brain. I watched as the tip of a wand was brought to Draco's wrist and I heard him cry out in pain as the Dark Mark began to form on his skin. Then I saw him sitting in the shower, staring down at his new mark as tears fell down his cheeks.

I quickly pulled out of Draco's eyes, my wide eyes meeting his. I noticed I was panting slightly, so I quickly sat up straight and pulled myself together.