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013.
ON THE LAST day of the holiday break, Esme and Harry were called down to the kitchen on the account of Professor Snape needing to speak to them both. It was jarring, to say the least, when Mrs. Weasley interrupted Harry and Ron's wizard's chess game – Hermione's cat, Crookshanks, was teetering suspiciously close to one of the fallen pawns on the floor – to inform them that Snape could not stay long and he had something important to discuss with them.
Harry's mouth had fallen open in utter horror, and it took some convincing from both Mrs. Weasley and Hermione to get him to willingly walk down the stairs with Esme towards the basement. Ron and Ginny were glancing between each other with looks of pure apprehension, which didn't help Esme's nerves in the slightest. No one seemed to be prepared to hear that Snape was at Grimmauld place and actually requesting their presence.
"What's he want with both of us?" Harry murmured as they descended the steps leading to the large kitchen door.
"I dunno," Esme responded, feeling as though she might be sick with nerves. "I thought I did pretty well on the last paper..."
Harry pushed open the kitchen door to reveal both Sirius and Snape sitting across from each other at the long table, pointedly looking in opposite directions with matching expressions of immense dislike. Esme took a seat on the other side of Sirius, so all three of them were facing the glaring Potions professor.
"I was supposed to see you two alone," began Snape, his voice low and waspish. "But Black –"
"I'm Harry's godfather," Sirius interrupted, brows furrowing in contempt. Esme shifted at the weight of the tension surrounding the pair.
Snape sneered. "I am here on Dumbledore's orders. But by all means stay, Black, I know you like to feel... involved."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Merely that I am sure you must feel frustrated by the fact that you can do nothing useful for the Order."
Sirius went quiet and opted to silently seethe as Snape smirked in triumph and turned to look between Esme and Harry.
"The headmaster has sent me to tell you both that it is his wish for you to study Occlumency this term."
"Study what?" Harry blanched.
"Occlumency, Potter," Snape narrowed his eyes. "The magical defense of the mind against external penetration. An obscure branch of magic, but a highly useful one."
"I'm sure you can figure the meaning out yourself, Goodwin, unless you really are hopeless," Snape said harshly, and Esme flushed. Sirius clenched his fists atop the table.
