Occlumency - 2
Draco scowled, and Narcissa lowered her eyes. "No. He never felt the need to conceal any of his thoughts," Draco said bitterly.
"Draco, that's enough," Narcissa said, and this time she did sound angry. "Why don't you and Potter start? I'll observe."
Harry took a deep breath and moved into the center of the room, staring warily at Malfoy. His wand felt slick in his grasp from his sweaty hands, but he fought to control his nerves.
Malfoy's gray eyes glittered dangerously.
"Deep breathing, Potter. Allow your physical body to relax while you envision a strong stone wall within your mind. Focus on nothing else but the stone wall," Narcissa said, surprising Harry. It was the first actual instruction on how to clear his thoughts that he'd ever been given.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, picturing the cold stone of the hearth in the hut where Uncle Vernon had hid them all while trying to avoid Harry's Hogwarts letters.
"Legilimens," Malfoy cried.
Harry's vision swam. The stone wall he'd so carefully constructed imploded in his mind.
He was inside the hut on the sea, lying on the floor and attempting to sleep despite the freezing cold while Dudley snored on the couch above him…
He was sitting in Dumbledore's office after the Third Task, trembling with Fawkes perched on his knee. He was so tired; he wanted nothing more than to sleep and not think or feel anything for a time…
He and Professor Dumbledore sat with Professor Slughorn. The rotund retired Potions' Master insisted he didn't want to return to Hogwarts, that he was too old and broken to go back…
He was snogging Ginny on the couch inside their magical tent and getting caught up in the moment. His hand slipped beneath her shirt to feel the deliciously warm bare skin on her back…
"Enough!" Harry snarled, finally forcing Malfoy from his mind, enraged. "That's private." He was exhausted and panting heavily. It was all he could do to remain standing.
"Don't worry, Potter. I couldn't care less what you get up to with Weaslette, but it did make you finally fight back. Why did you let me see those other memories?" Malfoy asked, amused. A light sweat glistened on his brow, but otherwise he appeared unaffected.
"What happened, Draco? How did he do?" Narcissa asked, lazily drumming her fingers on her chair.
"I broke in without much resistance at all," Draco replied gleefully. "His pitiful attempt at a wall crumpled almost instantly. I saw Potter as a child with some fat lout in a freezing little hovel. The next scene was in Dumbledore's office, and things appeared rather tense. Potter looked a right mess, and Sirius Black was there."
Remus's head shot up at mention of Sirius's name.
"Ah, yes. Your dearly departed godfather," Narcissa said, her voice dripping with false sincerity. "How tragic. Did you recognize the memory, Potter?"
Harry nodded stiffly. "It was after the Third Task."
"The other was a memory of him, Dumbledore, and Slughorn. It appeared as if Dumbledore was trying to convince Slughorn to return to Hogwarts, but why were you there, Potter?" Malfoy asked, his eyes narrowed.
Harry shrugged. "Professor Dumbledore said he had an errand to run while we were on our way somewhere else. Why were you so interested in my memories of Professor Dumbledore, anyway?" Harry asked, whirling on Malfoy.
Malfoy shrugged. "These were the first memories I stumbled across, Potter. Either they've been on your mind lately, or it was pure chance. Your mind is an open book, after all. The Dark Lord will make mince meat of you in no time."