SECRET ( Drarry fanfiction)

Chapter 5

"I think you're ready," Draco said on Sunday.

Harry swallowed heavily. "I hope so," he muttered. He was incredibly nervous, despite knowing that he was far ahead of where he'd ever been in the past in regards to learning Occlumency. Snape had completely skipped the step Harry had just been working on almost non-stop for five days.

"Are you ready for this?" Draco asked, getting his wand out and contradicting his last statement.

Harry eyed Draco's wand apprehensively. "No," he said, but nodded his head anyway.

"Clear your mind," Draco demanded.

Harry closed his eyes, appreciating the fact that he was actually given a chance to clear his mind first. Picturing the image of a shimmering defensive shield, he mentally placed it at the forefront of his mind, imagining all of his memories, thoughts and emotions being firmly tucked behind the shield. His mind was left clear and calm in front of that shimmering shield, no matter how much things were twisting behind it. Slowly he opened his eyes and nodded, trying to keep the shimmering shield in place.

"Legilimens," Draco said firmly.

Harry stared hard and concentrated on his shield, but after just a couple seconds he could feel it fall and Draco slipped into his mind.

Malfoy pushing him up against the wall outside the Potions classroom . . . In Snape's office with the man towering over him and yelling . . . Feeling of rage when meeting Dumbledore's eyes briefly before disappearing with the Portkey . . . the door at the end of the hallway . . . the veil inside the maze of rooms . . . Sirius falling . . .

Harry shoved at the presence in his mind, and returned to reality, gasping for breath. His head was already throbbing unmercifully. Draco watched him with cool detachment, not helping, not hindering.

After a couple of minutes, Harry concentrated on erecting his shield again, clearing his mind. He looked at Draco and gave a slight nod. He was able to keep it in place for a few seconds before it fell, allowing Draco access again.

Flashes of the two books of the Half-Blood Prince . . . Working in the Potions classroom . . . Drinking with Slughorn and Hagrid in Hagrid's hut . . .

Harry shoved hard, and landed on his hands and knees as if he'd been pushing his whole body forward, not just trying to push Draco out of his mind. Again he was left gasping for breath and his head was pounding, but now he also felt physically ill. He swallowed heavily, tasting the bile that was threatening to rise.

He heard Draco sit down on the edge of the bed and knew that they were done for the moment.

"Is there a pattern to the images?" Draco asked evenly.

"Yes," Harry choked out, slowly sitting back on his heels.

Draco gazed at him steadily and Harry didn't have a clue what was going on behind that calm mask.

"Why do I always feel so sick afterwards?" Harry moaned.

"Because it's invasive," Draco answered. "Mind and body are rejecting the presence that doesn't belong there."

"Oh," Harry said. "Makes sense, I suppose."

"It also has a lot to do with the fact that you are consciously trying to reject the presence," Draco went on in lecture mode.

Harry gave him an odd look. He recognized lecture mode because of Hermione, but he wasn't used to hearing it from Draco. At least, not until the last few days.

"If you weren't trying to actually fight it, your body wouldn't be protesting so vehemently," Draco added.

"Lovely," Harry said sarcastically. "So the sicker I am, the more successful I was at fighting it?"