My Godfather

Chapter XX: Petrified

Some of you'll may be wondering as to how Voldemort was able to enter Harry's mind. There's an explanation for that coming soon. Don't worry. The occlumency lessons shall be continuing and some more of the plot will unfold.

Read on!
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"Are you ready?" Sirius asked and got a nervous nod as a response. They'd practiced clearing Harry's mind and certain light exercises for the past few days. They could move to the next level now. Sirius would be entering Harry's mind.

The boy felt uncomfortable to say the least. He wasn't sure of himself at all. Sure, he'd completed the first step of Occlumency with ease but he knew that it only got harder as you kept going further. "Remember what we've been doing for the past few days. When I'm inside your head, I'll be able to look into your thoughts. Your job is to prevent that at all costs. Push me out as hard as you can. Understood?"

His father squeezed his shoulder encouragingly and smiled at him. He saw the silent message in those intense grey eyes. You can do this. He repeated the words in his head a bit. "I'm ready." His voice sounded stronger than he felt but he had to learn this if he wanted to stop Voldemort's mental attacks.

"Alright then. One, two three... Legilimens." Sirius was at once hit by a dozen flashes. His first meeting with Harry after acquittal. Shopping with Harry. Playing Quidditch with him during the summer. Harry's twelfth birthday. Since it was Harry's first try, Sirius didn't go in deep. He penetrated Harry's mind only superficially. He felt a small force, trying to push him out of Harry's mind. It was weak but it was still there. The force wasn't strong enough to completely cast him out and so he pulled out on his own.

Harry's breathing was slightly heavy but other than that, he was alright. "You're trying and that's a good enough start, kiddo." Said Sirius, smiling encouragingly at his son.

Sirius did the same thing again and again, going slow and gentle and by the fifth attempt, Harry could push him out although the push wasn't very strong. "That's enough for today. We can work on something a little more challenging tomorrow." Sirius concluded the session and none was happier than Harry.

Occlumency was difficult and wore him out more than all of his lessons combined. He knew that it would get more difficult with each session. He felt worn out. "Hey dad, can I have dinner right here? I'm too exhausted to go to the Great Hall." And he really was. He wasn't exactly sleepy but he was dead tired and he wanted to skip dinner and just curl up on his bed but he knew Sirius wouldn't allow that. "Of course. I'll call for some food for the both of us."

After dinner, his dad chased him to his room and Harry didn't protest. Once alone in his room, he sat up and pulled out his Charms textbook from under his pillow. Unbeknownst to Sirius, he had been staying up as much as he could, opting to sleep for only two or three hours a night. He hadn't been able to consciously try and fall asleep after that dreadful night.

Whenever his father would come to check up on him, he'd quickly slip underneath the covers. He enjoyed Sirius' little nightly visits. A slight ruffle of his hair, a kiss on the forehead were the little things which provided him reassurance. He didn't want to fall asleep and find himself in Voldemort's clutches.
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Harry's assumptions had been correct. The sessions got tougher with every passing day. The first few days had been alright. Sirius had only looked into his recent memories. They were all happy ones about his summer with Sirius. He was getter go better at pushing his father out albeit slowly.

The real grind began afterwards. Once he'd learned how to block superficial penetration, they worked on deep mind invasion. It was definitely harder to prevent it. These memories were far more painful. They were all the childhood memories that Harry had buried away deeply over the last few months. To have them resurface again all at once was overwhelming.