The Girl Who Lived (Draco Malfoy x OC)

The Mirror

November 17th 1995

Despite the differences between Sirius, Lupin and Snape; they had all agreed on one thing. That Harper must learn Occlumency. Harper, despite the warnings of how difficult it was to master in fifth year, was jumping at the opportunity. Anything she could do to vanquish the disastrous visions Voldemort was tormenting her with. She had exhausted her Dreamless Sleep potions and Snape was reluctant to give her any more, lecturing her about health and poisoning. At this rate, Harper was zealous in poisoning, anything was better than Voldemort getting in her head. Maybe that would get Umbitch off her case too.

She noticed how Snape was watching her peculiarly as he finished bottling a glimmering, pearl liquid. It looked like something Harper wanted to smear on her lips to impress Jack Sloper.

"Are you reading my mind?" She bluntly asked. After all, Lupin had expressed how Snape was a super Legilimens.

Snape scoffed, putting down the vial and rolling his eyes. "Mind reading, don't be daft, Potter. Only Muggles talk of 'mind reading.' The mind is not a book to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls to be deciphered by anyone. It is a complex thing with many layers."

"I think I've misunderstood... Sir," she added when his glare lasted. "Sirius said with Legilimency you can enter the minds of others."

His lips turned even more upwards at the mention of her godfather. "It is true that those who have mastered Legilimency are able to delve into the minds of their victims and to interpret their findings correctly. With Occlumency you will be able to shut down those feelings and memories without detection."

Despite her mentor's lecturing, Harper still thought of it as mind reading.

"Are you okay, Potter?" He asked with an indenture between two dark brows.

She rubbed her arm. "I am glad we're having these lessons, and believe me, I want the visions to stop more than anything, but what I have seen so far has been useful, hasn't it?"

"You're referring to Mr. Weasley's attack," he gathered.

"Yeah," she nodded and he glared again, "Professor."

"The Dark Lord has been unaware of the connection. Up till now it seems that you have been experiencing his emotions and sharing his thoughts without him being any wiser. Now, he is aware that you are gaining access to his thoughts and feelings. He has also deduced that the process is likely to work in reverse; that is to say, he has realized that he might be able to access your thoughts and feelings in return."

Harper shivered. "And control me..."

"Perhaps," Snape said and lingered. "I will not stop teaching you until I am confident you are a skilled Occlumens, Potter."

Harper nodded, pulling out her wand.

"Let's begin."

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November 27th 1995

The shadowy office was beginning to feel like a trap for Harper. Occlumency lessons with Snape had really waned on what was left of Harper's spirit for her fifth year at Hogwarts. She eyed the shelves bearing hundreds of glass jars with animal and plant bits in them, suspended in variously colored potions. Snape seemed to always be working on something, she did find it off that Dumbledore's Pensieve was in here. The shallow stone basin engraved with runes on his desk under a pool of candlelight.

"Clear your mind, Potter," Snape said calmly. "Let go of all emotion."

Harper blushed furiously, in recent lessons Snape had seen flashes of her lusting after Jack. She wanted to vomit after he'd seen them making out in the Gryffindor common room. Then he saw some embarrassing childhood memories she never wanted to relive. Dudley humiliating her, muggle school kids teasing her for oversized hand-me-downs and twelve year old Harper crushing on Oliver Wood.