Chapter 10-Countdown
The evening was quiet for Hermione and Harry. They had fallen asleep in the common room reading a book on Occlumency. As tired as they were they still had enough energy to laugh at the fact that it had put them to sleep. Hermione was still holding the book loosely in her lap when she awoke at a little before 11 PM when she thought she heard Ron come in with Ginny. She woke Harry and the said good night with a quick hug and kiss. This had been one heck of a day to say the least, she thought.
Bright and early Tuesday morning Hermione and Harry found themselves confronted by Hagrid in the Great Hall. He told them that from now on they were to meet in the Great Hall at 7 AM for breakfast and then meet Professor Dumbledore at 7:30 AM. Hagrid said that Professor Dumbledore would explain more when they met. Today they should hurry and get to Professor Dumbledore's office as early as possible. They could skip Snape's class today to meet with Dumbledore.
Harry and Hermione ate a light breakfast so as to not delay meeting Professor Dumbledore anymore than necessary. Harry was a little apprehensive at going back to Occlumency lessons. The last time it had been very taxing and upsetting. Of course, just being in the presence of Snape gave Harry a little more aggravation than he liked.
He kept thinking that the most important thing was that he would now be learning from someone he was sure had his best interests at heart.
"Hermione, are you ready to let someone see…I mean literally see what you are thinking or make you see something the way they want you to see it?"
"Harry, as long as Professor Dumbledore and you don't blush…," she flirted and winked. She was taking it seriously but still had a sense of humor about it.
"Hermione Jane Granger, you better be on your best behavior today!" Harry smiled.
Off they went. The most difficult time of their young lives was about to begin. As innocent as the lessons with Dumbledore seemed to them at the moment, the lessons they learned would prove to be the most important they ever learned in their lives. Somewhere in the back of each of their minds they were fearful that Dumbledore would pit them against one another. Reading each others thoughts was a dangerous venture.
Once inside Dumbledore's office they waited quietly admiring Fawkes sitting on his perch. He had obviously just emerged from the ashes as a phoenix was prone to do occasionally. Hermione and Harry looked around the room with more interest in the portraits of the previous Headmasters than they had before. A moment later the crystal clear tones of Professor Dumbledore's voice intruded into both of their thoughts. Hermione was shocked at the clarity of the illusion of speech. She realized that Dumbledore had not spoken at all. She turned to look at him and realized that every thought was shared with him. Harry concentrated as spoke the word, "No."
Harry's mind cleared instantly, but he could see that Hermione was intrigued by the visions. Suddenly, she saw Ginny Weasley on the floor of the Chamber of Secrets looking at Harry. She could see the gaping wound in Harry's upper arm from the fang of the basilisk. She could see the pain growing on his face and sense Harry fading away. He was dying from the venom. Fawkes glided in and in an instant healed the wound with a tear. Slowly the vision faded to black and Hermione vaguely became conscious of the world around her again.
"Hermione, that is an example of how an image can be projected into your mind that gives you a false sense of reality. Harry refused to accept it, but you had never experienced it before so it was interesting. You must become aware of the intrusions of others. There are very few who can control another's thoughts in that manner, but what you just saw could become a memory for you. Whether true or false, it could affect a future decision based on false information. You must not allow others in," warned Professor Dumbledore.
"Professor, I had no idea how vivid the images could be. Was that the kind of realistic images that Harry experienced?"
"Harry, describe for Hermione what they were like," said Dumbledore. "But do it the same way I did."
"Sorry, Sir, what do you mean?"
"Harry, I want you to imagine the scene you saw going into the Department of Mysteries. Pick one of the nights you can best recall. Even better, concentrate on the night you all went there. Concentrate as you focus on Hermione. Project your emotions and thoughts. Do you understand, Harry?" asked Dumbledore.
"Yes, I'll try."
Harry focused on Hermione's beautiful brown eyes, yet he thought about the moment they had arrived at the front of the Department of Mysteries. He remembered the smells, the tension in the voices of his companions, and the shallowness of his own breathing. Soon Harry could feel himself reliving the moment, but now he seemed to be seeing himself through Hermione's eyes. He looked confident and she was sure he knew what to do, even if they were terrified of what they might find. The experience of being out of his own body was more than he had bargained for. He lost his concentration and the images for both he and Hermione had passed into nothingness. It was as if he'd just awoken.
"Harry, that was brilliant," said Hermione. "How long have you been able to do that?' She asked.
Harry replied, "That was the first time, Hermione," he said with a troubled voice.
"Harry," said Professor Dumbledore. "I took it easy on you both today. You should be very concerned at this point. Voldemort is very adept at manipulating reality. He could have you looking at a vision of something that was not happening as you now both know. Of course, I am referring to the presumed capture and torture of Sirius. It led to actions that could have resulted in the death of many of your friends Harry. You must not overreact to the visions. Voldemort is as deceptive as he is cruel. He will stop at nothing to exploit a weakness."
Hermione's initial impressions were forever changed. She realized now why this was considered a dark art. This was akin to the Imperious Curse. While the Imperious Curse caused someone to act in a certain manner - an almost puppet-like manner - the Legilimens could alter another's memories which could change the way they acted of their own free-will. Suddenly, she realized that thoughts of severe depression could be used to drive someone mad or a slightly altered chain of events could be created to give a false impression on which someone might act. The importance of what they were doing was crystal clear.
"I think you both now understand why I want to see you each morning for one-half hour. You will learn a little each day and practice with each other. Do you understand? Also, you must begin to do what Snape instructed. Each of you should clear your mind each night before going to sIt helps for better sleep and keeps you from having too many dreams of significance. Do you have any questions?"
Hermione said, "Only one. What do you mean you took it easy on us today?"
Dumbledore replied with a smile, "Let us just say that no outside distractions could break your concentration. I also didn't press to find any embarrassing moments for either of you. I want you to learn to do this with restraint and common sense. I am sure Harry has already found out what I mean. Harry, do you have anything to add?"
"No, Sir, I don't," said Harry.
With that Dumbledore proceeded to climb the stair case to his chambers above. Harry and Hermione left looking at each other in disbelief.
Dumbledore was pleased with the first day. He had allowed them to see how easy it was to be manipulated. He must teach Harry control. He should have only let Hermione see what he wanted her to see. He should not have assumed her thoughts. Even though it may be useful at times, it can lead to taking thoughts out of context. This was the root of his warning about overreacting to the visions. An adept Legilimens could easily turn it to his advantage. He wondered how much Snape had really taught Harry last year. Had Dumbledore truly wanted to dig deep into Harry's thoughts, he doubted Harry could have stopped him. He was concerned about this.
Harry and Hermione were glad of one thing. They had missed Snape's class this morning with a good excuse. The next two hours were the only time that they had a different class all week. Hermione had Arithmancy and Harry had Divination. They parted ways just down the corridor from Dumbledore's office.
Harry and Hermione met at the Great Hall for lunch. They had been so preoccupied with the events of the last few days they had not noticed that the atmosphere of Hogwarts had changed. People, who had once greeted them cheerfully, now spoke in hushed tones with accusatory stares. Everyone at the Slytherin table were wearing purple armband over their black robes in remembrance of Crabbe. He may not have been one of its most popular students, but he was one of their own.
"Harry and Hermione, don't worry about everyone else," said Ron with a comforting shake of his head. "We all feel bad for Crabbe and his family, but there is nothing any of us can do to make them believe that if they don't want to. It was worse yesterday. But everyone had tears in their eyes then."
"Ron, what do they think we did?" Asked Harry.
"The rumors early in the morning were that you two had run off together and did both Crabbe and Malfoy in. Crazy stuff really, but neither Luna nor I could get away to tell you what happened. The longer you were gone the more the rumor got bigger. I mean just in Gryffindor House, Merlin knows what anyone else thought. It was ridiculous," Ron said with a look of amazed disgust.
"Why would anyone think that Harry and I ran off together, asked Hermione?"
"Oh, Hermione, that's rich. I mean really funny," said Dean Thomas wryly. "You two had to be the most dazzlingly ignorant people at Hogwarts. Apparently you were the only ones who didn't know. Why do you think no one ever asked you out, Hermione? And other than Cho, why doesn't anyone make over Harry more? I mean, he's bloody famous." In a way, Dean seemed jealous.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other and laughed nervously. "So we were thought of like a modern day wizard and witch version of Bonnie and Clyde?" Harry chortled. Immediately, he realized no one but Hermione knew what he was talking about. He continued, "Aw, forget it." He and Hermione smiled sheepishly at one another.
"Not to change such an interesting and embarrassing subject, but what went on in Snape's class this morning?" asked Hermione with a relieved tone.
"You know Snape. He went on about how so few of us had done as well as Miss Granger on the O.W.L.s. He described in detail the make up of a sleep draught that would leave one refreshed without dreams. He seemed to be gloating that he had made it for you last year when you were in the infirmary, Hermione." Ron continued on about class just long enough to tell them that he had gotten the notes from Parvati and Lavender. He would give them the notes later.
"Has anyone heard how Goyle is doing?" asked Harry. He was genuinely interested. He knew he shouldn't be, because of the horrible way the Slytherin had treated him. Harry's compassion was a surprise to everyone including himself. He thought how terrible the whole ordeal would have been for anyone. No one deserved what had happened to them. Maybe a good hex or something, but not like that.
"No not exactly," Ron said. "But last night Dad and Percy said that Madame Pomfrey was confident that he would come out of it soon. She thought he'd make a full recovery."
"So, how'd that go? I mean the reunion with Percy?" asked Hermione.
"He apologized to Mom and Dad before Ginny and I got there. But he told us too that he realized he had become something he wasn't proud of, in terms of the way he ignored the needs of the family. He's okay, but he can still be a bit of a stuffed shirt. But I understand." Ron left out how the apology had almost brought a tear to his eye.
"I heard you introduced Luna to your parents too. What about that, Ron?" asked Hermione? Ron turned every shade of red possible. Both from embarrassment and anger, but he remained relatively calm. No one but the family, Harry and Hagrid knew. Or so he thought.
"Weasley, you dog. Have you been snogging with Looney Luna?" chided Thomas.
"Dean, it's none of your business. Ron, I am sorry for….," Hermione begged for forgiveness. She truly wished she could go back twenty seconds and not say what she said. Ron was going to pay dearly with the ribbing he would get from the other guys. Ron held his hand up to Hermione to stop her.
"Don't worry about it, Hermione. Dean, she happens to be the best thing that ever happened to me. I should have spoken up before this. I will hex you to hell and back if you give Luna and me a hard time about it too. I think with Hermione's and Luna's help I could put one on you that would make what's happening to Goyle seem like a camping trip," Ron threatened. He was as red as his hair. He wasn't kidding like usual. He may not have meant the hex part to be disrespectful to Goyle but he wasn't going to take any lip from his classmates.
"Whoa, there, Mr. Weasley! After all Weasley is Our King still tops the Gryffindor music hit list," retorted Dean.
Ron got up. Harry got between them wondering what to do. They were both bigger than him. He had a flash in his mind, "Go ahead Weasley. Do something. Go sit with your girlfriend Potter. I'll take you both in a heart beat." Harry was now as mad as Ron.
"So you think you could take both Ron and me in a heartbeat. Do you? How about if I just…" Harry took Dean Thomas to the floor so quickly that no one including Dean or Ron could believe what they were seeing. Harry had his wand out with his hand on Dean's neck, "Don't you ever threaten me or one of my friends again. I will make you wish you were never born." Harry squeezed Dean's throat for a moment until Dean turned red. He heard rushes of voices in his head from everyone around him. They slowed as he regained his composure. He was embarrassed, yet still very angry.
Hermione and Ron grabbed Harry and pulled him off Dean with a little bit more effort than they expected. They could sense the danger that Dean was in. Harry had truly exploded. Hermione whispered in Harry's ear, "Come on, Harry, let him go. Do it for me?" Harry let Dean go, but threw him back so his head bounced on the floor. By this time Hagrid had come over to see what the commotion was.
"Harry, what the bloody blazes are ya doin'?" he said with a muffled yell. "Yur gonna get yerself in a heap load of trouble, ya are." Harry dusted himself off and looked a Dean with a look of utter bewilderment. He knew what he'd done. He wasn't sorry, but he didn't know why he had gotten so angry…so out of control.
Hermione quickly grabbed all their books, handed Harry his, and led Harry out of the Great Hall followed by Ron as Hagrid helped Dean to his feet. "Harry, what happened in there? I didn't need you sticking up for me. I'm a big boy."
Harry snapped around to Ron, "Listen, I don't know what happened. But I was trying to keep the peace and defend my friend. If you want to make something of it I'm ready. I am tired of all of you not saying what you feel." He realized that somehow he had reacted to all the bad feelings with the same anger that they were expressing in their thoughts. Hermione realized it too.
"Hey, mate, relax. I just meant that nothing was going to happen between me and him. He was just mad 'cause I threatened him. Bloody hell, Harry." Ron had never had Harry turn on him like that. Never. Not once. He didn't like it. It was as if Harry wasn't himself. Ron turned and walked off, leaving Hermione and Harry alone in the corridor.
He had not been the same since yesterday morning. Hermione was going to have to talk to Dumbledore and make Harry understand why. She wasn't sure that Harry had let go of Dean for her or not. She hoped so, because there was hope that she had enough influence in this to help him.