Romeo and Juliet (Book 2)

Chapter 5 - An Interlude for 'A Distinct Celebration'

~ For Alan Rickman ~

"If suddenly you do not exist,
if suddenly you no longer live,
I shall live on.

I do not dare,
I do not dare to write it,
if you die.

I shall live on.

For where a man has no voice,
there, my voice.

Where blacks are beaten,
I cannot be dead.
When my brothers go to prison
I shall go with them.

When victory,
not my victory,
but the great victory comes,
even though I am mute I must speak;
I shall see it come even
though I am blind.

No, forgive me.
If you no longer live,
if you, beloved, my love,
if you have died,
all the leaves will fall in my breast,
it will rain on my soul night and day,
the snow will burn my heart,
I shall walk with frost and fire and death and snow,
my feet will want to walk to where you are sleeping, but
I shall stay alive,
because above all things
you wanted me indomitable,
and, my love, because you know that I am not only a man
but all mankind. "

- 'The Dead Woman' by Pablo Neruda, from Anthony Minghella's 'Truly, Madly, Deeply'

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CHAPTER 5 - An Interlude for 'A Distinct Celebration'

~ R ~

"When I say clear your mind of all thoughts, I do not simply mean for you to not think about anything. I really do mean clear your bloody mind."

"I know, Severus."

After 'clearing her mind', as Severus so aptly put, Renee was now attempting to utilise an elemental barrier as her primary Occlumency shield. They were trying various blocking methods and thank Merlin, none have failed yet.

Severus swiftly pointed his wand at Renee's direction. "Legilimens!"

Renee tried her hardest to keep her barrier from shattering entirely, but the wizard's spell was just too forceful, and even a mind as trained as hers had limits.

"Your barrier barely sustains my penetration. Can you try to actually make an effort to block me? Once the Dark Lord discovers that you've been occluding in his presence, you're as good as dead. I don't ever want to see your barrier. Try again."

"I know that! Why can't I just use false memories like I did the first time?"

"Because you are astoundingly inexperienced with memory-tampering and you cannot afford to make any mistake."

"I'm exhausted, Severus."

"Do you think I'm doing this for my benefit?"

"No! I was only implying that my mind needs a break. I'm always grateful about you helping me. You know that."

"Well, you should know that I am not helping you." Severus said with a blank face. "This is a direct order from the headmaster."

"So, when you told me you would protect me before I left Hogwarts, that was just a lie?"

When Severus didn't answer, Renee couldn't help but feel absolutely heartbroken, and tears started to well up in her eyes.

She stood up and walked to his door without looking at him, not wanting him to see her break down. "I have to go. I'll practice by myself. I'll meet you at Malfoy Manor."