Chapter 68: Past

The year has also begun, and time is flowing peacefully at Hogwarts. The Defense Against the Dark Arts class taught by Leo was popular, and the students' skills improved significantly. Among them, some students, such as some Slytherin students, were resistant to the class. Leo himself did not teach such students very enthusiastically.

Unlike Hogwarts, in the world, Dementors were seen in the city, there were several escapes from Azkaban, and the number of missing persons increased more than usual, and people began to feel that the power of darkness was increasing. The Ministry of Magic is desperately trying to cover up and manipulate information, but it is already like a drop in the bucket. The change of government by Scrimgeour is in the final countdown stage. If this continues, the Fudge administration will come to an end before summer.

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One day after the Easter break, Leo was unusually called by Snape. He was a little excited to have a discussion about magic potions for the first time in a long time, but it seems to be a matter related to the Order. When he was led into Snape's private room, Harry Potter was there.

"Today's Occlumency class will be assisted by Taylor. I will be away for a while on a mission. First, I will explain about this special class, and then you should learn from Taylor."

Harry glares at Leo and Snape without hiding his disgust.

"Taylor, the acquisition of Occlumency by Potter is essential to prevent information leakage to the Dark Lord. From now on, I will cast Legilimency on Potter. Tell him what he lacks. "

Saying that, Snape activates Legilimency on Harry. Considering Snape's skill, it's clear that he's holding back a lot. If it's this level, the person who is being cast Legilimency will notice it immediately and try to deal with it. However, Harry Potter just opens his mind as it is. It's such a state that he doesn't even look away.

"Taylor. How is Potter's performance? This Occlumency class has been held a considerable number of times, but Potter is at this level. I am not enough to teach a wizard of this level. After all, I have never seen such a defenseless wizard."

Harry attacks Snape with his face turning red.

"Oh, is that so? Of course, Mr. Taylor can do it perfectly. After all, he's a genius."

"Of course. Legilimens!"

Suddenly, without any prior notice, Legilimency was cast without any mercy. He thought about defending with the ring, but if he did that, Harry wouldn't be convinced, so he defended with his own power. And not just defending, but deliberately letting him read a part of his mind. Of course, the information that can be read from that mind is full of nonsense.

"I see... Even with Occlumency, it can be done like this depending on how you use it. Deliberately flowing false information and confusing the opponent. As expected, Taylor. I'll give 5 points to Ravenclaw."

"Being able to see through that, Professor Snape is also a considerable user. Isn't it better than Headmaster Dumbledore if it's limited to Legilimency and Occlumency?"

"Huh. That's flattery. Well, I'll be away for about an hour, but Potter should learn well from Taylor's teachings during that time."

After saying that, he immediately left the room.

"Then let's start with a lecture on what Legilimency and Occlumency are."

He teaches simple principles and countermeasures, but Harry does not listen to the story seriously due to hostility. He learned to look away at least, so it's not that he hasn't progressed, but even with that level of resistance, it would be almost meaningless in front of Voldemort.

"It's not going well. Potter, you should get rid of unnecessary feelings towards me. Occlumency is easier to create a stronger wall when the mind is calm. Let's learn to maintain a calm mind no matter what happens. If you do that, you should be able to create a wall of mind more easily."

"I'm doing it! Isn't there a better way to teach? It's the same with Snape, you're just casting Legilimency on me. You're not as nasty as Snape, and you do give some advice, but I'm not successful at all."

"Occlumency is about creating a barrier in your own mind, so it's best to build your own defense method from that state when someone uses Legilimency on you. I think Snape's method is forceful, but it's not wrong."

"Oh, is that so? You're saying it's my fault that I can't do Occlumency."

"Actually, Occlumency is something that you have to do something about yourself after explaining it in words. ...So maybe it's better to learn how to maintain peace of mind first. You seem to have a lot of ups and downs in your mind, so let's learn to keep your mind calm no matter what happens. If you do that, you should be able to create a wall of mind more easily."

Harry listens to the story but doesn't seem to be able to calm down. He is still glaring with disgust and anger. It's so clear that you can tell even without using Legilimency.

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Severus Snape, Leonard Taylor. Both are people I dislike. Snape always targets me, and he hates me even if I don't do anything.

Taylor was the cause of Hagrid being sent to Azkaban. Moreover, he is the worst guy who didn't prevent Voldemort's resurrection.

(Damn it! Why do I have to be taught by such guys. Dumbledore should teach me directly instead of leaving it to them. Even though Voldemort has resurrected, the Ministry of Magic does not admit it, and the world calls me a liar. Despite that, Taylor is recognized and relied upon by everyone. Why!? This guy is one of the causes of Voldemort's resurrection! Dumbledore even let him into the Order! He didn't tell me anything!)

I'm irritated. When I see this guy Taylor, I feel like killing him.

If only this guy wasn't here, this guy is bad. If he wasn't here, everything would have gone well.

That's right, this guy is bad. Dumbledore, who brings him into the group, is also bad, hateful. It would be better if he disappeared. Then...

(Ah, what? What is this... Why even Dumbledore? Me?)

My thoughts were strange. It was as if it wasn't me.

When I noticed, Taylor was staring at me. His eyes were like those of observing an experimental animal. But I understand. He's not looking at me.

I felt fear in his eyes and inadvertently averted my eyes.

Suddenly, something caught my eye. It was the sieve of sorrow. It was something that was in the headmaster's office before.

I wondered why it was here and approached it to look inside.

Inside, a silver-white substance was floating. That was for a moment, my face, no, that is...!

(Dad! Just now, for a moment, I saw my dad's face! Is my dad related to this memory!)

Once I was convinced of that, I plunged into it without any hesitation.

I didn't know that I would regret it to death later if I didn't do such a thing.

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The atmosphere of Harry Potter suddenly became strange. When I wondered what it was, something was connected to Harry Potter's body.

When I use the "Eye", I can clearly see that another soul is interfering.

(There is another soul in the body, although it is very small. It is being interfered with from the outside using that. ...Ah, Voldemort. Did a part of the soul stick to Potter when he was a baby? Maybe it was activated because the main body was resurrected.)

The interference was short, so Harry quickly regained his sanity. However, if he does not learn Occlumency, he will be gradually eroded by Voldemort's soul.

(Should I remove it? No, it might be good to observe the erosion of the soul. ...Does Dumbledore notice it? That's why he's teaching Occlumency. He'll do something when it comes to it. Until then, I'll just watch.)

As I was thinking about that, the figure of Harry Potter disappeared. There was a sieve of sorrow in that place.

It seems that he went into the memory.

In order to bring him back, Leo also entered it.

Inside the memory, a man who looked like Harry was grinning and making a nasty smile, hanging a man who looked like Snape upside down and pulling down his pants. Next to the Harry-like man, a young Sirius Black was laughing, and a little further away were Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew.

And Harry was standing still, looking at the spectacle with eyes that couldn't believe what he was seeing.

When Leo approached Harry, he began to get agitated.

"Ta, Taylor. Th, this is some kind of mistake. My dad wouldn't do such a thing, he wouldn't..."

A group of Gryffindors centered around Harry's father, James Potter, were laughing at Snape, who was in a miserable state. It was not a pleasant sight to watch.

"Hahaha! You look good, Snivellus! What happened to your proud dark magic? Oh, that's right, I made it so you couldn't open your mouth. Hahaha!"

"Hey, hey, Prongs. No matter how you look at it, Snivellus is pitiful. Let's take him to the infirmary with the curse he got earlier. Of course, as it is!"

"That's Padfoot for you. That's right! If we're going to do it, it would be easier to examine the condition of the wound if he was naked."

Laughter rose from Gryffindor at that remark. Lupin seemed to be laughing in agreement for now, but Pettigrew had a disgusted expression on his face.

Snape was desperately trying to escape from the magic, with tears of frustration in his eyes.

"POTTER!!"

A roar echoed there.

The one who appeared was a young Erskine Taylor.

"Potter, you again. Can't you do something about that behavior?"

"No, no, Senior Taylor. It's Snivellus here who attacked me. And he was using dark magic."

"Even so, it's too much. Let him down."

"Yes, yes. Here you go!"

James deliberately dropped Snape with force.

Ferris Taylor, who was Ellison at the time, hurriedly moved and caught him.

James and Sirius clicked their tongues as if they were not amused.

"Haha, Snivellus is miserable! Can't you become a dark wizard if you're helped by the lowest rank of Hufflepuff?"

Ferris didn't care about James's words and helped Snape up.

But Erskine had reached his limit of patience.

"Enough, you damn glasses."

"Huh? You're the one who should stop, right? Listen. Severus Snape there has been deep in dark magic since his first year. No matter how you think about it, he's going to be a dark wizard in the future. What's wrong with attacking such a guy? What's the point of defending him? It's not a Ravenclaw-like behavior that values intelligence. Oh, I see, your brain is made of muscle?"

"Do you really think so?"

Ferris responded to Sirius's words.

"Of course. Dark magic is evil. So, he's a villain. It's not just him. The Slytherins are a reserve army of dark wizards. Maybe we should put them in Azkaban now. Then Hogwarts will be peaceful and everyone will be happy."

"The Gryffindors are no different from the Slytherins. You guys are as low as dark wizards as humans."

"...I've been holding back until now, but it seems necessary to seriously beat down that nature."

"Erskine, I'll help. I'll smash those glasses."

"Be prepared. Don't think we're the same as before. Let's go, everyone!"

At James's words, the Gryffindor students around him all prepared their wands. Lupin was watching it from a distance, and Peter had already run away when Erskine came.

"To tell you the truth, you're the real deal. Snape is a bonus. We think you're a candidate for a dark wizard because you're protecting Snape. And you're in the way. Every time we do something, you get in the way!"

The Gryffindor students around him were led by James and Sirius's words and were convinced that Erskine would become a dark wizard. This is the result of the runaway sense of justice unique to Gryffindor.

"I'm fine with a sense of justice, but I've never affirmed a dark wizard. Snape is bad. But I can't stand to see your bullying of the weak."

"Keep talking! Blow away!"

James, who said that, was blown away. The result of Ferris's full-power physical enhancement punch breaking his nose and crushing his glasses and sticking them into his face. The Gryffindor students, who were confused by the absence of their command tower, James, indiscriminately cast magic on Erskine, but all of them were defended.

Leo, who was watching the scene with amazement, and Harry, who was expressionless beyond despair, were joined by Snape, who had grown up. His expression was red with rage. The two were pulled from memory and returned from the sieve of sorrow. The last thing they saw was a hellish picture of Gryffindor students being blown away one by one.

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The three of them returned to Snape's room.

"Get out... Get out!!"

Harry left quietly without his usual defiant attitude.

Leo also apologized and left because he thought what he saw was bad.

---

Hogwarts is peaceful, but the influence of the dark forces is steadily increasing in the world.

Helping with Snape's Occlumency lessons.

You'd want to tell Harry (and Ron by extension) to calm down a bit more, wouldn't you?

Well, considering their age, it's probably reasonable.

Harry, who is almost taken over by the bow.

The negative emotions are larger compared to the original, so the influence is also larger.

Leo, whom he hates, is right in front of him, so it's only natural.

Harry, who enters the memory on his own.

He impulsively entered because he saw the shadow of his father while his heart was weak due to the influence of the bow.

What was waiting for him was a father who was far from his ideal image.

The fathers of the past.

James and Sirius, who were annoyed by Ferris for interfering with their pranks and defending Snape, always got beaten up

This time it's a group attack! → We still couldn't win...

By the way, James and Sirius's pranks are more malicious compared to the Weasley twins' pranks.

The twins make everyone smile, but James and his friends prank because they want to laugh.

Snape, seeing Erskine and the others beating up James and the others, becomes even more want of power (dark magic). One of the reasons Snape became a Death Eater was because of Erskine.

Erskine is not so much protecting Snape as he hates bullying the weak.

Even if other students were being bullied, he would have acted the same way.

After this, they were lectured for a long time by McGonagall along with James and the others who were beaten up. After this, James and the others became a little quieter.

So, stay tuned for the next chapter.

Who is the most pitiful in this story?

Harry, who doesn't play an active role compared to the original.

Ron, who has no more appearances and has his original wife, Hermione, taken away.

The Voldemort, which has become ultimate difficulty mode.

On the contrary, Lupin and Sirius are probably happy.

All of this is Leo's fault.