In the Melancholy Moonlight

Chapter CLX: First Occlumency Lesson

HARRY:

After New Year's, the mood around 12 Grimmauld Place steadily declined. The thought of the holidays ending was not a happy thought for anyone. For Sirius, it meant being alone again. For those of us returning to Hogwarts, it meant Umbridge again. For us fifth-years in particular, it meant O.W.L.s were rapidly approaching. And, of course, for everyone who knew about Lucy and/or Remus it meant the full moon Sunday night.

Saturday afternoon, the room I shared with Ron was quite the hub of activity. He was beating me at wizard's chess in one corner of the room, Ginny and Fred were smacking a Bludger back and forth in another corner of the room, Hermione was sprawled on Ron's bed with her nose buried in a book, and George was keeping Crookshanks entertained with a floating ball of yarn. Lucy was sitting cross-legged on my bed watching everything, safely within the protective confines of a silencing charm so she could be with us without being overwhelmed by the noise of so much going on at once.

I was about to take one of Ron's pieces when Mrs. Weasley stuck her head in the room.

"Harry dear, could you come down to the kitchen? Professor Snape would like a word with you."

"Snape?" I repeated after a moment.

"Professor Snape, dear. Now come on, quickly, he says he can't stay long."

I bit back a groan and followed her from the room, wondering what on earth I had done to earn the displeasure of Snape hunting me down specifically. When I reached the kitchen, he and Sirius were sitting on opposite ends of the table, refusing to look at each other. It might have been funny if I didn't feel such a sense of disgust and dread just looking at Snape's greasy black hair and the cruel eyes in the middle of the mop.

"Sit down, Potter," Snape said as I entered the room.

Sirius leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. "You know, I think I'd prefer it if you didn't give orders here, Snape. It's my house, you see."

Just the same, I lowered myself into a chair next to Sirius and watched with a small amount of amusement as Snape's pale face flushed with anger.

"I was supposed to see you alone, Potter, but Black—"

"I'm his godfather," Sirius interrupted.

"I am here on Dumbledore's orders, but by all means stay, Black, I know you like to feel... involved."

Sirius looked at Snape for the first time, loudly putting all four legs of his chair on the ground. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Merely that I am sure you must feel — ah — frustrated by the fact that you can do nothing useful for the Order." I opened my mouth to defend Sirius, but Snape continued before I got the chance. "The headmaster has sent me to tell you, Potter, that it is his wish for you to study Occlumency this term."

"Study what?" I asked.

"Occlumency, Potter. The magical defense of the mind against external penetration. An obscure branch of magic, but a highly useful one."

I froze. I thought I wasn't being possessed. "Why do I have to study Occlu — thing?"

"Because the headmaster thinks it a good idea. You will receive private lessons once a week, but you will not tell anybody what you are doing, least of all Dolores Umbridge. You understand?"

"Yes. Who's going to be teaching me?"

"I am," he replied as if that should have been obvious.

No. No. No. No. I looked desperately at Sirius.