Frequent Lessons

As the world spun, images flashed through Harry's mind like a movie.

At the age of five, he watched Dudley riding his new red bicycle, and his heart was filled with envy… At nine, he was chased into a tree by his watchdog, Lipi, and the Dursleys were laughing on the lawn… At eleven, he was wearing his Sorting Hat and heard him say he could go to Slytherin…

One by one, the secrets buried deep within his heart were revealed, and Harry kept his wits about him as he tried to stop them, but to no avail.

Soon, more memories returned, and Harry was transported back to the first night of school, listening to the Aurors of the Ministry reading Dumbledore's Will … and then running alone out of the Great Hall and running into Fawkes the Phoenix …

No, no, no more, Professor Dumbledore said to keep it a secret from everyone…

Harry struggled wildly, trying to get out of this state, and perhaps his efforts were paying off, as his surroundings became more and more blurry, but his body seemed to be under someone's control, following Fawkes…

As Harry resisted, he tried to recall the notes Ivan had given him, and vaguely remembered that, in addition to being able to resist in his head, he could also interrupt Legilimency by attacking the caster!

Realising this, Harry focused all of his attention on his right hand, and his real body did the same thing as it had done in his memory space. He struggled to raise his hand to find Snape's location in his memory, then waved his wand and roared.

"Excellarmus ~ (excluding your weapon)"

A scarlet beam flashed through the air.

The next moment, Harry found himself back in Snape's office, and a long, black object was flying towards him.

Harry instinctively took it from her and looked down to see that it was a wand.

"Hand it over!" Snape's fierce voice boomed out of the darkness ahead.

Harry looked up to see Snape looming over him in the dark, but he was clearly injured by his own Disarming Charm.

"You must think you're very capable, don't you, Potter?" Snape demanded, striding forward and snatching his wand away.

"I didn't!" Harry retorted angrily. "You were the one who said there were other ways I could resist your charms … and I think that includes jinxing you …"

"That's no reason to attack the Professor at will! And the Dark Lord will not stand before you and let you cast spells on him…" Snape hissed.

"You didn't let me put the spell on you, did you? I resisted it!" Harry said stiffly, glaring at Snape.

"Rubbish! You can't cope with anyone with your poor spell-casting skills!" Snape roared. He looked as if he was about to say something else, but stopped himself and instead questioned her darkly. "I saw Fox in your memory earlier. Where was he going to take you? Was it Dumbledore's instructions?"

"No Fox, no nothing, that was a deliberate attempt to construct memories in my head to lure you into a trap…" Harry forced his face to remain expressionless as he spoke dryly, trying to avoid Snape's gaze.

"Don't try to lie to me! I know more about Occlumency than you do!" Snape said coldly. "Dumbledore left you something, didn't he? Or did he have other plans? I should have known he would never have left yours out…"

Harry gripped his wand and said nothing.

"It doesn't matter if you don't tell me, I can see for myself!" Snape said, a nasty smile on his face.

"And tell it to Voldemort, right?" Harry demanded loudly.

Snape's face froze.

Harry looked angrily at Snape and continued. "I saw it all. Last summer, you were the one who treated Voldemort's injuries and worked with him on how to save the Azkaban prisoners… and you stayed close to Voldemort the other day…"

"So you've been inside the Dark Lord's head all this time?" Snape's eyes flickered and his tone was scornful. "I assume Dumbledore warned you not to try that again, and it seems you didn't listen."

It's not like I can control the dreams! Harry was frustrated, but he did not want to show weakness in front of Snape, so he said in a confrontational tone, "If I didn't get into Voldemort's head, I wouldn't be able to see you acting so subservient to him!"

"Apparently, all you see is what the Dark Lord wants you to see!" Snape interrupted. "You have no ability to tell right from wrong, Potter! You don't even know what's real and what's not…"

"However, I never expected you to understand this, as you have behaved as foolishly as your arrogant father over the years!" Snape said sarcastically.

Trembling with rage, Harry gripped his wand tightly, wishing he could hit Snape again, but his remaining sense told him that Snape was deliberately trying to provoke him, and that he would have a reason to lecture Harry if Harry attacked first.

His forbearance did not work, however, and Snape went from bad to worse, reaching out and snapping, "Give it to me!"

"What?" Harry was too angry to care about Snape.

"In case you lose control, I don't think you'll have to use your wand for the rest of the lesson," Snape explained slowly.

"That doesn't make sense. How am I supposed to defend myself against your magic if I don't have a wand?" Harry backed away, glaring at Snape.

"Of course use your head!" Snape said harshly. "If you really don't want me to see memories, then find a way to empty your mind, or use your will to banish me… the Dark Lord will not stand before you and cast spells upon you!"

Harry stood rooted to the spot for a long time, hesitating, until Snape grew impatient and seemed about to attack him.

He knew he had no chance of defeating Snape if Snape was on guard.

"Ivan, Ron, and Hermione know I'm practicing magic in your office tonight!" Harry exclaimed after Snape had taken the wand, his voice full of warning that Ivan and the others would notify the Ministry if he did not return for a long time.