And She Was Golden

and he breaks (in her arms)

"Do I really have to be here?"

Professor Snape flicked his wand and all the desks and benches slid towards the opposite end of the room. Two chairs hopped towards the recently vacated space in the centre, coming to a stop facing each other in front of Draco.

"Did you finish reading?" Snape asked briskly, making it apparent he wasn't going to tolerate any inanity.

"Can you actually start answering some of my questions?" he muttered under his breath as he stomped toward the empty seat. Draco was here because he had to be, only cooperating because he hadn't a choice. He rummaged in his satchel before pulling out the heavy tome he had been given last week. "Of course I did."

A nod of approval and the potions master was taking the empty seat in front of him.

"Tell me then, what have you learned?"

"Occlumency is the practice of guarding one's mind against legilimency," Draco recited verbatim, having spent his free time pouring through the book, much to his displeasure. "I'm assuming legilimency is common practice amongst...our circles." The look Snape gave him was all the confirmation he needed.

"And did you meditate?"

"Yes, sir."

"It seems that at least some of you...are capable of taking direction, after all," he drawled, more to himself than Draco. "Very well." Snape pointed his wand at Draco, a steady hand aimed between his eyes. "And so we begin."

"Hang on," Draco threw his hands up in protest. "Wait—" he protested.

"Today, we will start building your defence"

"—shouldn't there be more direction? Are you really just—" He didn't get to finish as the world blinked out around him.

A room, large and open.

Barren.

He squinted, trying to make sense of his new surroundings. Draco whipped around, turning to examine the expanse. This room wouldn't be out of place in his home; the trimmings reminded him of his library, though there was one stark difference. There were no windows anywhere. The room was bright though he couldn't spot any lanterns or torches that could be the source.He took a few steps forward, each step echoing loudly.

Where was he? How did he get here?

A ripple in his periphery caught his attention and he turned to the disturbance. Large gilded doors appeared, materialising right before his eyes. Professor Snape walked in through the ornate set of gates, his robes billowing out behind him in a manner all too familiar to Hogwarts students. Had the gates simply been invisible? Shouldn't he have at least been able to sense their presence? He didn't think it was possible that its existence could have escaped his notice altogether.

"It seems you hold promise," Snape intoned, offering no explanation for their current whereabouts "A strong defence, but it was to be expected. The Blacks have always had a natural inclination toward the subject."

"Where are we?" Draco asked, gesturing to the room around them albeit unnecessary.

"This is the place where you build your walls... lock your thoughts and guard your secrets."

"But there's nothing here."

"That's what you think." Snape arched an eyebrow, "It's protection, but anyone with basic skill would be able to access what they wanted to." With a snap of his fingers, the ground rumbled beneath them. An earthquake took over and the ground split open, large structures growing out of the floor. He scrambled to keep his balance as the disturbance took over. It was a few moments before the world righted itself, the rumbling coming to a stop. As the world stilled, Draco's eyebrows furrowed as he examined the new addition to the location. It took a few moments before he realised what they were.