A Different Beginning

Chapter XL - Occulmency and Lexy

Classes started up pretty normally and Harry was already itching to return to Grimmauld Place. Umbridge had hardly gotten any better and Harry was continuing to tune her out whenever possible. He would think about what he was planning for his next DA lesson or he would think about Ginny. Both always made him feel so much better.

But it was Ancient Runes class that he was most anxious to get back to. Harry was dying of curiousity over what Sirius had gotten Professor O'Bryan for Christmas. He was sure that whatever it was, it was definitely amazing and she would not be too happy about it. She was incredibly stubborn when it came to Sirius and Harry had a feeling that their relationship would all come down the same way that Remus and Tonks had - in an argument. However, when Harry got to O'Bryan's classroom, she never mentioned anything about it and he figured it might be safer not to push.

Finally, Wednesday evening arrived, the evening that Harry had been dreading - an evening with Snape. He stepped into the office for his first Occulmency lesson and was surprised to see Dumbledore's pensive sitting on the desk.

"Close the door, Potter."

Harry did as he asked but when he heard the click on the door he couldn't help but feel like he was locking himself in.

"So why am I learning Occulmency again?"

Snape sneered. "You will call me sir or professor at all times, Potter."

"Right, um Professor, why am I learning Occulmency again?"

Snape rolled his eyes as if this question wasn't even worth his time. "To protect yourself against the Dark Lord, Potter. The Dark Lord is a supreme Legilimens which is why Occulmency is so important. You do know what Legilimency is, right?"

Harry nodded, glad that Ginny had told him about that a few years before. Legilimency was the ability to read minds or to extract feelings and memories from a person's mind. "Yes, sir."

"Good."

"But sir, if Voldemort is so good at reading people's minds then what's preventing him from reading my mind right now?" Harry asked.

Snape sneered. "Because, you stupid boy, like anything else this type of magic needs a certain amount of eye contact! We are inside of a castle dungeon safe because time and space matter in magic! The walls of Hogwarts are guided by many ancient spells and wards! The Dark Lord cannot penetrate your mind in here!"

"Well, then why do I have to learn Occulmency if Voldemort can't get to me from in here?"

"Because you seem to be different, Potter! That wretched scar on your forehead that the Dark Lord gave to you somehow connects you to him. You need to learn how to protect your mind from him." Snape explained. "That night that you dreamed about the snake? The Dark Lord became aware of your connection for the first time that night. You saw what happened through the snake's eyes. Now that he knows about the connection he will possibly try to use it to get to you. Do you understand?"

Harry nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Good."

Harry watched as Snape brought his wand to his head and carefully began to remove memories from his mind, placing them into the pensive. Harry wondered what the memories were that Snape was hiding from him.

"Close your eyes, Potter, and block your mind from mine. On three."

"Wait! How do I block my mind?" Harry asked.

"By not wanting me in it. Three! Legilimens!" Snape called out.

Harry felt a light pressing of something on his brain and then images from his past began to slide through his brain: Uncle Vernon beating him with a belt; Aunt Marge's dog Ripper chasing him up a tree; James punching Uncle Vernon; James reading him bed time stories; the Christmas he got Foolish; the Sorting Hat; seeing Ginny lying in the Chamber of Secrets; the argument between Sirius and James before Sirius moved in; Harry and Ginny in the garden laughing and tickling each other and then Harry moving in to kiss her and - no! That memory was private and he didn't want Snape to see that.

He managed to break the invasion in his mind and he saw Snape rubbing his wrist where an ugly welt was.

"Did you mean to use the Stinging Hex?"

Harry gave Snape a bewildered look. "No."

Snape nodded. "Interesting. You let me in too far. You let me see too much. You must not let me in at all. You must repel me with your mind and not resort to using your wand. Got it?"

Harry nodded and before he could even concentrate on blocking his mind, Snape had called out 'Legilimens' again.

Harry felt the same thing happen. An invasion in his mind as memories flashed through: Uncle Vernon locking him in the cupboard under the stairs; Remus teaching him how to play catch; James showing him how to fly a broomstick; the dragon from the Tri-Wizard tournament; Cedric dying; Voldemort rising from the potion; the corridor leading to the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry.

Harry snapped himself back and shook the thoughts from his mind. The Department of Mysteries? How did he suddenly know where that familiar corridor led? "Sir? What's in the Department of Mysteries?"

Snape paled slightly. "What did you say?"

"I said: what's in the Department of Mysteries? Sir?"

"It's none of your business, Potter, and I want you to remember that. Why did you see that corridor?" Snape asked.

Harry shrugged. "I've been dreaming about it on and off for a while now, since the summer I think."

"You need to stop dreaming about it. Practice blocking your mind. You're dismissed." Snape replied coldly.

Harry nodded and walked out of Snape's office, rubbing his hand over his head. His scar was pounding and he knew that it didn't have anything to do with Voldemort but because of the assault that Snape had just placed on his mind. He was concentrating on rubbing his head and staring at the ground so he didn't realize that there was anyone in front of him until he walked into them. He looked up and grinned at Professor O'Bryan.

"Sorry, Professor."

O'Bryan smiled. "It's alright. But you better watch where you're going."

Harry nodded. "Professor ... did you like what Uncle Sirius got you for Christmas?"

Her smile faded. "He's not going to give up is he?"

Harry shook his head. "I don't think so."

She sighed. "You know, he still sends me flowers every day and every night and once a week I've been getting scrolls with famous love songs or love poems written on them. And not to mention long letters telling me all about himself and asking questions about me. And as to Padfoot - did you know that that's his nickname?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah I did. I thought that it was funny that he would name the puppy he gave you after himself."

She nodded. "Yes well, he sent me a note saying that Padfoot was his alter ego and that if he couldn't sleep in my bed then at least the puppy could. I mean, have you ever heard anything so bold?"

Harry snorted out a laugh and she glared at him.

"You find this amusing, don't you?"

He grinned. "I can't help it! He obviously really likes you. Why don't you just give him a chance?"

She sighed. "Tonks told me the same thing. I went to school with her, you know. We're pretty good friends now that we're both in the Order. She said that his bark is worse then his bite and that he might be a prat but he's a Marauder at heart. I wasn't sure exactly what she meant by that but she's in love so she might just be at that stage where she wants everyone to be as happy as she is."

Harry nodded. "He likes you a lot, Professor. And to be honest, I have no idea what he sent you for Christmas. He just told me to wait and see and that you would really get a kick out of it."

O'Bryan nodded. "He sent me a singing locket."

Harry glanced at her in confusion. "A singing locket?"

She nodded. "It's the most ridiculous thing ever! When I see him I'm going to ... do you know where he's going to be on Sunday?"

Harry nodded. "Order Headquarters. Why?"

O'Bryan shook her head. "Nothing. I need to end this once and for all. He's absolutely ridiculous. Well, I'm off to bed now, Harry, I was just out for a cup of hot coco. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Professor."

Harry watched her go, wondering what Sirius was going to pull out of his bag of tricks next if she continued to be so stubborn. He headed up to the common room, his head still pounding. He took a seat in his favourite armchair and Ginny came over to sit on his lap.

"How did it go?"

He shook his head and then moaned at the pain the movement inflicted on him. "Horrible. My head feels like there are a million knives stabbing themselves into my brain."

Ginny kissed his forehead and gently ran her finger over his scar, tracing it gently and then rubbing. Harry's head fell back in pleasure as her fingers massaged his temples.

"That feels so good," he murmured.

She smiled and continued what she was doing until he was sleeping soundly in the chair, oblivious to Fred and George's show of their latest inventions - Headless Hats. She cuddled back against him, wrapping his arms around her and wondered just what had happened in the meeting with Snape. She had never seen him look so exhausted. He had only been in there for an hour.

Hermione sat down across from them. "Did he say how it went?"

Ginny nodded. "Horrible. His head was killing him. I massaged his temples a bit and he fell right to sleep. He's exhausted."

Hermione nodded. "Well, the common room should be clearing out pretty soon. For now, just let him sleep there."

Ginny smiled. "I was going to."

Hermione glanced over at Fred and George. "Those hats are clever. It's obviously an Invisibility spell but it's been expanded past the object somehow. How did they get so few O.W.L.s?"

Ginny shrugged. "Mostly because they don't care. They know exactly what they plan to do and how to do it. They really are quite brilliant you know."

Hermione nodded. "I suppose. Well, I'm going to head up to bed for the evening. Goodnight, Ginny."

"Goodnight," Ginny replied as she stayed cuddled close to Harry. She could feel his even breathing as he slept soundly and she smiled. She was just glad that she had made him feel a bit better. Even if she was still unsure as to what exactly had happened in Snape's dungeons.

**********

Harry woke up a few hours later to find Ginny still snuggled in his arms. He blinked a bit to bring the room into focus until he realized that he was no longer wearing his glasses. He found them on the table next to them and slipped them on. Ginny's eyes fluttered open at the movement.

"Hey, how are you feeling?"

He shrugged. "Alright. My head isn't pounding so much. I think that you have magical fingers."

She laughed and reached up to kiss him softly. "Maybe I do. Come on it's after one; we should head up to bed now."

He grinned. "What, you don't want to sleep here with me?"

Ginny smiled at him. "Hmm as much as I'd like to, I think that I prefer a bed to a chair."

Harry sighed. "I sadly agree." He stood up after Ginny, clutching his head as pain rang through his scar and a cry of maniacal laughter came from his mouth and rushed through his mind.

"Harry, what is it?" Ginny asked, her voice filled with concern.

He shook his head until the pain subsided and then he looked up at her. "I think that Voldemort is extremely happy about something."

"What?"

He shrugged. "I have no idea. But it can't be good."

**********

The next morning they figured out why Voldemort was so happy. The Daily Prophet front page showed a mass outbreak from Azkaban prison. Several known Death Eaters were now on the loose: Antonin Dolohov who was convicted of the murder of Gideon and Fabian Prewett; Augustus Rookwood who was convicted for leaking Ministry secrets to Voldemort; Bellatrix and Rudolphus Lestrange who were convicted for torturing Frank and Alice Longbottom into insanity; as well as many others.

Hermione glanced at Harry when he was done reading. "Frank and Alice Longbottom, are those Neville's parents?"

Harry looked at Hermione in surprise, uneasy at the question. He had promised Neville never to reveal that information. "Why would you say that?"

Hermione shrugged. "Well, I've always wondered what happened to his parents, I mean, he does live with his grandmother."

Harry nodded. "Well, you'll have to ask him now, won't you?"

"Ask who what?" Neville asked as he sat down to breakfast.

Harry took the newspaper from his plate and handed it to Neville. "I think that you should read this, mate."

Neville's eyes widened in anger as he read what was there. "I'll kill them. If I ever ... I'll kill them."

Harry shook his head. "I know you want to, Nev, but right now that's not the thing that you should be thinking of."

Neville nodded and he glanced over at Hermione. "I understand your question now, Hermione. Yes, those are my parents."

Ron gulped. "Are they - dead?"

Hermione elbowed him. "Ron! Don't be rude! How can you be so tactless?"

Neville shook his head. "No, they're not dead."

Harry placed a comforting hand on Neville's shoulder. "They're insane. The Lestranges used the Cruciatus on them and tortured them into insanity. They live at St. Mungo's."

Hermione gasped and placed a hand over her mouth in shock. "Oh Neville, I'm so sorry."

Neville nodded. "It's okay. I think that I'm going to head class. Bye guys."

Ginny placed a comforting hand on Neville's shoulder, not knowing what to say. He gave her a small smile as he left the Great Hall.

"That's so horrible, I can't even imagine."

Harry nodded. "Yeah it is," But he was no longer paying attention to the conversation. His mind had drifted off to how the Marauders were reacting to the new mass break out.

********

When Harry arrived at Grimmauld Place the following Sunday he was anxious to see Sirius. He had been waiting patiently all week to tell Sirius in person about his conversation with O'Bryan. He wanted to know a bit more about this singing locket that she had been commenting on. He also wanted to warn Sirius that she seemed determined to break it off with him - or try to anyway. Harry knew that Sirius was much too stubborn, at least until she gave him a chance. But he never got the chance to ask him.

He had just stepped into the kitchen when the front door slammed shut and he winced as Mrs. Black's picture (which nobody had yet managed to get off the wall) began to scream. He turned to see who had caused all the noise as James and Sirius looked at each other from their spot at the kitchen table while Remus continued to lean against the door jamb with a slightly amused expression on his face. He grinned when he recognized Professor O'Bryan as she stormed into the room. Her blonde hair was waving madly in the air behind her because of how fast she had come in. Her green eyes were sparkling with anger.

"Professor, what are you doing here?" He asked.

O'Bryan looked down at Harry before she glared at Sirius. "What is the meaning of this, Black?" She demanded as she pulled out a gold locket from her pocket. "What kind of gift is this? Are you trying to piss me off?"

The locket was heart shaped and outlined in diamonds. She opened it up and there was a picture of her on one side and Sirius on the other. The picture of Sirius was making kissing faces at her. But that wasn't the good part, the good part was that the locket was singing, loudly, and badly in Sirius' voice:

Wouldn't it be nice if we were older
Then we wouldn't have to wait so long,
And wouldn't it be nice to live together
In the kind of world where we belong.

You know it's gonna make it that much better
When we can say goodnight and stay together.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up
In the morning when the day is new,
And after having spent the day together
Hold each other close the whole night through.

Happy times together we've been spending,
I wish that every kiss was never-ending,
Wouldn't it be nice?

Maybe if we think and wish and hope and pray it might come true,
Baby then there wouldn't be a single thing we couldn't do,
We could be married,
And then we'd be happy.

Wouldn't it be nice?

You know it seems the more we talk about it
It only makes it worse to live without it,
But lets talk about it,
Wouldn't it be nice?

When it was finished it would start all over again until someone slammed it shut.

"Well?" O'Bryan demanded. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

Sirius stood up, winking at James and Remus. He walked over to O'Bryan so that he was standing in front of her. He licked his lips and then grinned at her. "Lexy, all I can say is - Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up in the morning when the day is new? And after having spent the day together hold each other close the whole night through?" He sang cheerfully with a big sloppy grin on his face.

"Happy times together we've been spending," Remus and James belted out together making Harry burst into hysterical laughter. "Come on, Harry!"

Harry grinned. "I wish that every kiss was never-ending."

"Wouldn't it be nice maybe if we think and wish and hope and pray it might come true? Baby then there wouldn't be a single thing we couldn't do." Sirius belted out as he began to snap his fingers to the beat. "We could be married and then we'd - mmphf."

Sirius' singing was stopped by Lexy's lips. Her arms had slipped around his neck and her lips were pressed close up against his. She tasted just like he remembered, a refreshing taste of citrus as the explosions went off in his brain all over again. She pulled away and Sirius stared at her in surprise. Then he yanked her close, spun her into a dance and dipped her down to kiss her again.

She grinned, laughing when he pulled her back up. "You're an absolute idiot. And God help me, I can't resist you any more." Then she leaned forward and kissed him again. "Prat! Jerk! Idiot!"

He laughed and yanked her closer. "See? I knew that you couldn't resist me."

"And let's add stubborn and mule-headed as well and what about- mmphf," she fell silent as Sirius' lips met hers once more.

Harry, Remus, and James quietly slipped out of the room.

Her hands slid into those thick dark shaggy locks that fell around his face as his hands rested comfortably on her waist. Her only thought was why had she been pushing him away and at the same time she wondered where he had been her entire life. She felt safe in his arms and she felt like she was home.

She moaned gently when he pulled away. "This is hopeless."

He grinned. "No, it's perfect. I knew that you'd come to your senses eventually."

Lexy laughed. "You know if you just asked me out like a normal person I might have considered it but you didn't even know me and the next thing I know you're kissing me in the middle of Umbitch's office."

Sirius grinned. "And you loved every second of it."

She grinned and pouted. "I did not."

Sirius gently twisted one of her golden locks around his finger. "You did and you want me to kiss you again right now."

Lexy smiled at him a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Maybe." Then her smile widened when his mouth met hers again and her only thought was - at last.