Chapter Text
Chapter 1
It was the final day of the winter holidays at Grimmauld place, and Harry’s momentary period of happiness was coming to an end. Firstly, he would soon be separated once more from Sirius again. His godfather was slowly retreating more and more into his mother’s room, his depression obvious by the constant glum face he wore. Harry was beginning to be deeply concerned, worried about how he would get when everybody left once more; when they had arrived, he hadn’t said anything about it, but from the Harry didn’t even see him that much anymore. Secondly, his examinations were coming up, and once again, he had been too preoccupied with everything to care, but he was slowly starting to panic. Thirdly, Harry was… confused. The vision he had seen… where he had seen through Nagini’s eyes was just unbelievable. Ron, Hermione and Ginny had helped him understand that he wasn’t possessed, but he had still been there, in Voldemorts mind, hadn’t he? The guilt he had felt for witnessing Mr Weasleys attack, and for possibly being to blame for it was overwhelming. Not to forget Unbridge and her terrifying new reign. That toad was all over the school, throwing ridiculous decrees left and right. Soon enough, she would override Dumbledore himself! But she didn’t know about Dumbledore’s Army, the quiet resistance led by Harry Potter himself. He should be more grateful to Ron and Hermione for their suggestion-and for appointing him as their teacher; it was a great morale booster, and even Neville was greatly improving.
Waking up with a bounce in his step, he decided to make the most of his last day of peace.
Then, something happened that made Harry positively dread his return to school.
“Harry dear,” said Mrs Weasley, poking her head into his and Ron’s bedroom,where the pair of them were in very heated match of wizards chess watched by Hermione, Ginny and Crookshanks, “could you come down to the kitchen? Professor Snape would like a word with you.”
Harry hadn’t immediately registered what she had said; one of his castles was engaged in a violent confrontation between Ron’s bishop, and they were both enthusiastically cheering on their own team.
“Squash him- squash him you idiot, he’s only a bishop. Sorry Mrs Weasley, what did you say?”
“Professor Snape, dear. In the Kitchen. He would like a word.”
Gears turned in his mind. Then, it clicked.
Harrys mouth fell open in disbelief, and then in horror. He looked around at Ron, whose mouth was open in shock, Hermione, who looked as shocked as the next person, and Ginny, who looked positively frazzled. Even Crookshanks, who was lounging comfortably in Hermione’s arms, gave a screeching meow, and knocked over their board in his haste to leave the room.
They all gaped at each other, turning to look at Harry. Then they looked back at Mrs Weasley.
“Snape?”he asked in confusion, ignoring his chess piece’s grumbling and protesting on ground.
“Professor Snape, Harry dear. Now come quickly, he says he can’t stay for much longer.”
Silence. They all slowly turned back around, looking at one another with horror.
“Snape? But what does he want with you, you haven’t done anything wrong, have you?”
Ron asked in disbelief.
“No!” Harry exclaimed indignantly. Gears turned furiously in his mind, trying to think of anything he might’ve done to warrant a conversation with Snape. Maybe he had finally gotten a T in his last essay, and this was Snape coming to gleefully scold him?
A minute later, he was pushing open the kitchen door, to find Sirius and Snape inside, both seated on opposite sides of the table. They were glaring at opposing directions, the silence full of tension. Mutual hatred clouded the air, and a letter lay on the table, its contents open next to Sirius.
“Um,” Harry said, to announce his arrival.
The following conversation was, by no definition, short and easy. Both parties had clearly opposed the idea, and thankfully, Sirius and Snape hadn’t ended up in a duel.
“Sit down, Potter,” Snape said coldly.
“Y’know,I’d prefer if people don’t give orders in my house. It’s my house, you see Snape ,” Sirius said loudly.
Snape’s face flushed with anger, and he was ready to dish out his own remarks back.
From then on, the hostile conversation had carried on, and Harry had been in a state of shock ever since. Occlumency lessons. With Snape?
‘Why doesn’t he have these lessons with Dumbledore? Why you?’ Sirius had questioned furiously.
‘I suppose it is because it is a Headmasters privilege to delegate less enjoyable tasks upon their subordinates.’His answer had been cold. ‘I assure you I did not beg for this job.’
He got on his feet. ‘I will expect you at six o’clock on Monday evening,Potter. My office. If anybody asks, say you are taking remedial Potions. Nobody who has seen you in class can deny that you need them. ‘
He had turned to leave, his black travelling coat bellowing out beneath him. It was a wonder; was it enchanted to do that, or was Snape just that scary?
The fight that had ensued was best left forgotten. He got chills just thinking about it…Telling Hermione and Ron though… was a completely different story.
Harry walked back in through the door of their bedroom, slumping back in his spot.
‘Hey mate, what did Snape want from you? He didn’t try to give you detention, did he?’ Ron asked. Harry didn’t respond. He was wallowing in misery. ‘He gave you detention? What an ars-‘
‘Ronald!’ Hermione shushed him.
‘He didn’t give me detention,’ he said miserably.
‘Then what did he call you for?’ Hermione instigated.
‘He came to deliver a message from Dumbledore..’
Hermione and Ron nodded, beckoning him to continue.
‘We’re having Occlumency lessons together. Next Monday at six is our first one.’
Silence enveloped the room like a balloon. Then it popped.
‘What? Lessons with Snape?! Say it isn’t weekly..’
‘Occlumency?’ Hermione asked.
‘He said Occlumency is the defence of the kind against external penetration,”he explained. ‘Whatever that means. ‘
Silence.
‘Why do you think Dumbledore wants him to give you these lessons?’ Ron asked hesitantly.
‘Well…it’s probably because of all those visions of Voldemort you keep having, oh stop it Ron!’ he flinched violentlyat the name ‘ you should say it too. As I was saying, Dumbledore wants you to have Occlumency lessons with Snape, so you can learn how to not see those visions from Voldemort. ‘
Harry and Ron glanced at eachother and nodded. Made sense.
‘But why isn’t Dumbledore giving you these lessons? If he wanted Harry to have these lessons so bad, it would’ve made sense to teach him himself. Harry and Snape don’t even like each other , Merlin knows what that greaseball will do to Harry in their lessons. ‘
Hermione lightly punched his arm ‘Don’t be ridiculous Ronald! Snape wouldn’t do anything like that ; just think of all the times we thought he was going to kill him, just for him to be the one to save Harry! Like with the Philosphers stone, when he was trying to stabilise his broom, not to kill him. And I’m sure Dumbledore couldn’t give Harry lessons personally, even if he wanted to- which I’m sure he does. Of course it’s because he’s too busy! I’m sure Dumbledore would’ve given the lessons himself if he could’ve, but seeing as he’s the headmaster-‘
Harry’s mind worked furiously, anger building up in his chest. But would he have given the lessons himself, even if he had the time? No. He would not have even spent that much time in a room with Harry. Harry had noticed the way that Dumbledore avoided his eyes, his gaze, his attention. He had completely avoided him since the court hearing, not even sparing a glance or good job, as he coldly walked out of the room. Harry had recognised the feeling he had felt when they had made eye contact before the portkey here; the feeling of a dormant snake, ready to attack. And he had wanted to. What was Dumbledore up to behind the scenes?
What was he thinking? What was he doing? Why was he, Harry Potter, the one involved in it all, being kept in the dark, not knowing what he was doing, not receiving any guidance? Why was he only secondary?
Hermione and Ron shared a sheepish glance, taking in his gloomy expression, before deciding to leave him be. A repeat of his outbursts when he first came to Grimmauld place in the summer… not a pleasant thought.
Gradually, they settled back into the warm atmosphere they had built before, each student in the house packing for their return to Hogwarts the next day. Fred and George laughed at Ron’s reaction to their latest trick- disappearing heads! They even managed to make Hermione laugh- a first, ever since their debut of puking pastilles. And before they knew it, Mrs Weasley was ushering them into bed.
Now, it was late at night. Ron was snoring, and the deep sounds of breathing were the only things left in the wake of the usual liveliness. Harry lay awake, wondering what would happen the following Monday evening, and a deep sense of foreboding built in his chest…
The following day, Grimmauld Place was filled with the hustle and bustle of everybody finishing their trunks at the last minute.
Mrs Weasley trundled into their room, impatiently levitating their trunks towards the flop. “Come on, Ronald, and get that owl in his cage already!’
Pigwidgeon and Ron were currently playing a long game of catch, Ron desperately trying to stuff him into his cage, and his owl clucking with pleasure.
“Harry, dear, come downstairs. Hermione and Ginny are already waiting for you,” she said patiently. He smiled back, and nodded. As he walked down the landing, the twins popped downstairs, where it seemed like Sirius and Mr Weasley were waiting to send them all off.
“Where’s Ron?” said Mr Weasley.
“He’s still putting Pigwidgeon in his cage,” Harry replied. Mr Weasley chuckled, and made his way up to help him out.
“Harry, come here, I want a word,” Sirius beamed, pulling Harry into a room.
It was the happiest he had seen Sirius in a while, and it made him feel relieved.
“Yes, Sirius? “
“Well, Harry. There is something I’d like to give you.” He handed a small, roughly wrapped package into his hands. “ This,” he winked,” is a way to communicate, if Snape ever gives you a hard time during Occlumency lessons, so you can tell me.” He beamed, Harry going to open it.
“Thank you, Sirius,” he beamed.
“Harry! Come here, Tonks and Lupin have just arrived,” Mr Weasley called out. Sirius gave him a nod and a grin, and they both made their way to the door. Remus smiled at him, Tonks giving her trademark, “Wotcher Harry!” Before they all left, Mad-Eye and Lupin arranged for their trunks to be sent via floo-powder later.
“Now, Fred, no more misbehaving from you, especially you George.”
“I’m George, not him!”
“We’re your own sons and you still can’t tell us apart?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, dear,” she said, giving everyone a warm hug and kiss.
“Nah, I’m just messing with you. I am Fred.”
They cackled, and Mrs Weasley just shook her head. She gave Harry a final hug, whispering,
“Don’t you worry, you’ll be at school soon enough.” He gave a smile, and hugged her back. Mrs Weasley was always a great mother figure, but he wasn’t sure if she could ever love him the way she loved the rest of the Weasley household. He wished it were possible.
“Out,out! You’re behind schedule, and remember-“
“Constant vigilance! Yes, we know, thank you Moody,” Tonks jested, pushing everyone out.
Sirius moves forward, and gave him a quick, firm embrace. “Good luck with Snape. Keep your head down, and your wits about. Don’t forget about that package.”
“Come on!” Mrs Weasley ushered him out, and he stole a final glance at Sirius. He would miss him very much, being trapped in the house you ran away from couldn’t be easy.
They moved quickly throughout the streets of London, Lupin casting wary looks and Tonks disguised as a fragile old lady. They were constantly on the lookout for anyone failing them, Ron and Hermione devoid of their usual jittering.
Harry sighed. He couldn’t wait to be back at Hogwarts again, but he could wait an eternity for that Occlumency lesson…