27

Chapter 27: Anxiety

"Late."

"My Lord, I am sorry!"

"CRUCIO!"

He did not scream. He wasn't a stranger to pain anymore. He knew he came late, from his own damned reluctance to return to his master, and his own duty to Poppy as the resident Potions Master. Still, it didn't make it any easier.

As Severus lay gasping on the floor, he focused solely on maintaining his Occlumency shields. There was too much he knew already. If Voldemort had even an inkling that he was conspiring with a dead man he would be a dead man. When he opened his eyes, it was to see the cold marble floor. Somehow he had fallen.

"Severusssss, rise." his Lord commanded.

He did so, staring up at the great ugly body, dressed in black upon a dark wooden chair. He wasn't sure what emotion was strongest: disgust or loathing or fear. It was probably an unhealthy combination of all three.

"What news has the old wizard gathered from last night's events?" he questioned softly.

"Only what was in the Daily Prophet, my Lord." Snape began. "The Bones child has left the school and Dumbledore has insisted that Moody continue to teach."

For some reason, the monster seemed pleased by this.

"And do you know why there were guards at the door?" he continued in that same soft tone.

"My Lord?"

"I am asking why the old coot has decided to take an interest in the prophecy just now. He has had people stationed there for a week. I have only acted recently."

What could he say? That they were luring him to the prophecy? Absolutely not! That Dumbledore was doubting his memories? But then, that would make him seem old and weak. A prime target!

"My Lord, Dumbledore does not have confidence in his army. He believes the only thing that can save the Light is Neville Longbottom and that the secret to his success lies in the prophecy."

Voldemort nodded slightly. The thing was, Voldemort knew it was really Harry Potter he had tried to kill. So did Severus. But Severus didn't know that Voldemort knew, and neither did the Dark Lord. But then, did Dumbledore know the truth? Because even if he knew Neville was less than useless, he would want to prepare him for his role...and even a paper bag trained by Dumbledore was rather dangerous.

"Has the Longbottom boy shown any signs of this great power?"

"His only remarkable talent lies in Herbology, my Lord. I rather doubt he will be a threat to you."

"Indeed. You did well, my loyal servant." he hissed. "Lucius, Bellatrix, you may enter."

From behind him, two large doors swung open to reveal the two in Death Eater robes.

Lucius chanced a glance at him, before returning his eyes to the Dark Lord. While Lucius and Bellatrix knew of Draco's task, Severus did not (or so Voldemort believed), and even then, only Lucius knew of the details of his plan. But Bellatrix knew something the others didn't, which he was now only too smug to reveal.

"Yesterday, as you have all heard, Amelia Bones and Alastor Moody were attacked in the Department of Mysteries."

Bellatrix nearly swooned. He remembered her contribution!

"However, that was not the only purpose I had sent you there. You see, people can be weapons as much as prophecies can be weapons. Dumbledore had sent his guards to protect the prophecy, but who was there to protect the guards?"

Severus felt his heart drop. He knew where this was going and didn't much want to get into all the gory details.

"The Moody currently inside Hogwarts isn't Alastor Moody, Severus. It is Barty Crouch Junior. A loyal Death Eater I have freed from Azkaban. The real Moody is contained." he added maliciously.

Severus was glad he wore a mask so that no one could see his jaw drop. What in Salazar's name-? It was like he was hit over the head with the whomping willow. Whatever he had expected the Dark Lord to say, it was most certainly not that a Death Eater roamed amongst the children. No wonder Moody had acted so differently from yesterday. While he was ordinarily so gruff but somewhat levelheaded, today he was angry, very vocal and even likeable. Well of course he would have to be to blend in. Dammit! In all his years of spying, how had he not suspected sooner? Granted they only had breakfast together but still...

Lucius too was feeling a bit uneasy. This homicidal psychopath was in the same building as his Draco!

"My intention for him is to help young Draco in his task. You see, Severus, I need to test Crouch just as much as I need to test Draco. Before this war is over, I will need the aid of my spy and would rather not, ah, use up my resources too quickly."

Even as the Dark Lord smiled maliciously, Severus couldn't help but ask,-

"My Lord, I saw Moody today with a bandage around his leg. It practically radiated Dark Magic—the kind that can't be reproduced..." he ventured.

"Ahh yes...What good is a servant if they can't take a little pain?" (Snape gulped) "It was essential for the story to work. How else would Moody be able to escape alive if my Death Eaters hadn't left him alone because he was being handled by Nagini? And senile as he is, Dumbledore would suspect in an instant if the wound wasn't authentic."

"It was quite a sight, my Lord!" Bellatrix giggled. "His screams were so loud! I think Nagini scared him!"

"So you see, Lucius," Voldemort smiled over the witch's insanity, "Draco is in quite good hands."

.oOo.

Hasan sensed it immediately when the silencing charms were waved away. There was something beneath that cloth, thrashing desperately, but stuck to the table with a sticking charm.

"One more question before we start today's demonstration: What do you propose I have concealed beneath this cloth?"

And that's when Hasan heard it. The hissing.

:What isss thisss place?:

:Shhh, perhapsss thiss human will let usss go.:

:My tail feelsss broken!:

Hasan froze, jade green eyes locked onto the table. Snakes! What was Moody doing with snakes? Where had he get them? Why had he gotten them?

Their hisses became more frantic, tinged with fear as the students got louder.

"It's moving!" Pansy shouted.

"It's alive?"

"Oh, Merlin!"

:What isss that?: one of the snakes hissed.

Hasan frowned, unsure of what to do. He still wasn't sure what was planned, but given their chat on the unforgiveables, it was rather hard not to guess. His eyes met Moody's over the exclamations of the crowd and there was unmistakable cruelness in them. With a flourish, the professor vanished the pall covering the reptiles, much to the horror of the class.

There was immediate silence.

Draco Malfoy's eyes nearly bugged out of his head. Snakes? Snakes? He was giving a demonstration on snakes! It was a rather tactless attack at the Slytherins, but perhaps he deserved some allowance because his leg had been gauged out by Voldemort's pet yesterday...even Draco had to admit that Nagini made him uneasy.

"The unforgiveables, as Mr. Longbottom has pointed out, are curses which times make necessary to defend against. The imperious curse, for example, renders its victim useless to the whims of the castor." Here, Moody pointed his wand very carefully at the greenish viper and whispered: "Imperio!"

The snake stopped its thrashing at once, adopting instead a hazy look which gave it the appearance of being drugged.

"As I have previously stated, the unforgivables are hardly the most terrible of spells. Simple spells like incendio can do just as much damage." With another wave of his wand, a small fire sprung up from the fireplace which was located at the front of the room, but to the left of the table.

Draco wasn't in the habit of showing weakness, but right now, vomiting did not seem like a bad idea. He could sense the tension in the room, the way the Slytherins were looking uneasily at each other, the way the Gryffindors hid their virgin eyes, not used to seeing gore of any kind.

Everyone watched, entranced, as the snake was made to slither down the table leg, across the cold stone floor, and to the fire roaring in the corner.

"STOP! This is inhumane!" Daphne screamed, unable to contain herself.

"Humane?" Moody asked. "War is not humane. Everything I do is for this war." And he made the snake crawl forwards to its death. The fire seemed to burn brighter as the snake's nose reached the flames. The flames licked against its scales and for a moment, the imperious curse wavered.

:HELP!: the snake hissed, before the tail followed the head and the body became charcoal. To make a theoretical point, the snake had turned to ash.

Moody returned his attention to the class, a smile on his face. "Who wants to choose the next curse? You, Miss Davis?"

Tracey seemed to shrink away. She shook her head rigorously.

"Please, we are all waiting. It is either the cruciatous or the killing curse—what was that? I didn't quite catch that."

"The cruciatous." Tracey repeated boldly.

The breath hitched in Hasan's throat. The fire was horrible enough in itself. This? He had seen its work on humans. He did not wish to see it again. Neville was having similar thoughts. Though he had never been privy to an actual torture session, he got the general gist and had an innate phobia of the cruciatous. Ever since his gran had told him the story of his parents, why they were confined to St. Mungos for insanity, Neville had imagined the scene over and over. Had Bellatrix laughed as she was known to do? Had they tried to run? To protect themselves? Had they known? Had they faced it, knowing the consequences. Knowing that Neville would grow up without them?

"Very good, Miss Davis." Moody flicked his wand at the second viper with a muttered crucio. The change was instantaneous. The poor creature began to flail on the desk, beating its muscular tail against the wood. It twisted uncontrollably as unseeable knives sliced through its scales, stabbing the soft underbelly and every sensitive part of its anatomy. It writhed unnaturally, screaming all the while in a language only Hasan could understand.

:Save me: it choked out as Moody smiled. Neville couldn't watch. He buried his face in his hands and plopped his head firmly on the desk. He refused to watch this torture. Draco, meanwhile, was staring with a growing feeling of nausea. This was what his aunt did so well, what his father did, what his family was known for. What he was destined to do.

"Stop it." Daphne said again, obviously set on protesting. "Stop it! Can't you see it's bothering him!" At that, the entire class turned to Neville Longbottom, the boy fated to rescue them all, who had turned ghastly pale.

"It wouldn't be the cruciatous if it didn't bother some." Moody replied gruffly without any feeling. Hasan remained silent.

"Stop it! STOP IT!" Daphne yelled as the hissing became louder.

:It hurts! It hurts me so much!:

"Professor!" Tracey pleaded.

Finally, the snake was released. The girls calmed. The snake heaved large breaths, still shaking from the aftermath of torture, unable to control its own body.

"Mr. Longbottom, perhaps you can tell me how I should dispose of this?" Moody prodded. "Does the killing curse seem so dark now? Out of all the spells to take life, the killing curse is the most humane. What do you think, Mr. Longbottom? The killing curse, or find some other way? Perhaps even continue until it becomes so insane it can't tell the difference between life and death."

Neville lifted his head and promptly gulped. What could he do? The man was right. The killing curse was the only way.

"—Professor," Hasan interrupted, "This snake only needs to be disposed of, am I correct, sir?"

The teacher shuffled a bit before reluctantly nodding.

"Then I'll take him." he said.

"You'll what?" Neville repeated stupidly.

Moody was thinking much the same thing. "Mr. Castell, this is a specimen for education, not some house pet. I simply cannot allow it to leave this room."

"Then your objective isn't to dispose of her is it? It is to make your points through suffering. Professor Moody, please say what you mean, because you're talking in riddles."

A prevailing hush swept over the class. Hasan Castell, the quiet boy in the Snake House was standing up a teacher. Not one of them could recall a time in which they heard him say much of anything. Granted, Lupin and his memory charms had a hand in that, but as far as anyone was aware, this boy was coming out of nowhere. What did they know about him really? And how did he know the snake was a female?

Moody's mouth twisted into a grim line. "Detention, Mr. Castell. This weekend, for speaking out of turn and challenging a teacher's methods."

The class was astonished as Hasan nodded once before standing up straight and tall. His eyes gleamed dangerously as he walked towards the professor. No, past the professor, to the snake. But before he got there, Moody raised his wand with a shout—

"Avada Kedavra!"

Draco was about to warn Hasan, but it was too late. The spell was cast, the green light flashing before their eyes. Moody was breathing heavily. Hasan turned steadily to face him. Then, the jade eyed boy took a step back revealing a sizzling black hole where the snake had been. The snake wasn't dead. It had vanished, letting the killing curse burn through the table. And Hasan was the one to vanish it, without a single word spoken or a wand waved, or even a hand. But no one knew this, that Hasan had magicked it away—they could only suspect. It had happened so quickly, and everyone was half wincing before the incident.

"Class dismissed!" Moody barked harshly. "Everyone out!" He glared at Hasan before he said in a softer tone, "Mr. Malfoy, if you could stay for a moment?"

.oOo.

Hasan was surprised that he was allowed to leave but didn't want to question it. What he did was thoughtless, reckless, stupid beyond belief. But what that man did was thoughtless, reckless, and stupid beyond belief. Not only was it illegal, but several Light and Dark families were in that room, polar opposites in the war, and with this Light wizard practicing Dark magic, he was rather unpopular all around.

No one noticed except Malfoy that the snake had gone missing. They were all too stunned and scared to pay much attention to the little details. But it was not lost on the Malfoy heir how impossible it had been for that snake to have escaped death. Yet, there was only one snake remaining on the table, hissing in a tongue that Draco didn't understand.

"Mr. Malfoy." Moody began as soon as the class was empty, the door locked and warded. "As you no doubt know, curse scars never go away," and with that, Moody shoved up his sleeve to reveal a mark so recognizable it was burned into boy's brain. With that one gesture, Draco's world was flipped upside down. This man was not Moody. This man was not Moody. This man, right in front of him, was NOT Moody. He was a Death Eater. "My name is Barty Crouch Jr."

Somehow, a bloody Death Eater had made it under Dumbledore's nose and into the school. For some reason, his blood ran cold. He was supposed to be happy he knew. Support was what he needed most, but this seemed more like babysitting. The Dark Lord obviously didn't trust him and planted this imposter here to keep an eye on him.

"You're not the only one being tested here, Mr. Malfoy." Barty said as if knowing his thoughts (but he didn't because Draco's occlumecy shield were up) "You see, my success depends on your success. And I've only been here a day, and already I've noticed some things which are not conductive to what the Dark Lord wants. You can't spy if you withdraw within yourself. Whatever little misgivings you've got better get sorted out soon because the Dark Lord WILL NOT tolerate failure. I suggest you start working on your attitude today, boy. I'll be watching." Moody's face hardened. "And we all know what happens when someone fails, don't you?" The snake on the table seemed to tense as if in understanding, before Moody pointed his wand carefully at the creature. "Try not to let this be you—AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Draco left the room shaking.

.oOo.

Draco Malfoy wasn't sure about several things. As he made to sit down at the Slytherin table for dinner, he wasn't sure where to sit. Moody basically blackmailed him into making nice with his own friends who he was going to betray...and if that wasn't complicated he didn't know what was.

"Hey Hasan, Daphne, Tracey..."

"Hi Draco!" the girls beamed.

He forced a smile before sidling in beside Hasan. "So where's Theo?" he asked.

Hasan shrugged, "Most likely in the Hospital Wing with Hermione. I didn't realize they were that close."

Tracey giggled. "Hasan, were you not here at all last year? Didn't you see them snog in the halls before?"

Hasan shook his head. "When did this happen? And why would I watch if I happened across them?"

Daphne sighed bemused, "Honestly, Hasan. For someone who nearly blew up the Defense classroom you sure don't notice much."

"Speaking of which," Draco cut in, trying to be social. "Where'd that snake go anyway?"

"In that damned fire," Daphne hissed, "I hope Moody burns in Hell so he knows what it feels like."

"No, I meant the other snake." Draco prodded, noticing how Hasan suddenly became very interested in his mashed potatoes.

"The second one?" Tracey repeated, "Moody killed it with the killing curse."

"Look who needs to pay attention now," Draco laughed hollowly, "It was gone—spelled away."

Daphne looked disgruntled, "Hasan, you were up there, what did you see?"

The jade eyed boy who had tried so hard not to be noticed was dragged into the conversation. "There was a snake on the table after he cast the spell." Hasan said, referring to the third one.

Draco sighed. At this point, the boy was being purposely ambiguous, but why? Did they reach that point when Hasan no longer trusted him? Or did Hasan know he was digging for clues?

"I meant the second one," Draco nearly growled.

"Geez, take it easy," Theo said over his shoulder.

"Theo!" Daphne greeted. "You came right on time! Draco thinks the second snake disappeared. What do you think?"

Theo frowned. "To be honest, I wasn't really paying attention."

"How could you not be paying attention, Theodore Nott!" Tracey admonished. "That was the creepiest class I've ever gone to!"

"Well, the same reason I came late just now. Did you know when I went to the Hospital Wing, Hermione was unconscious?"

Hasan's attention was immediately grabbed. "Unconscious? But she only fell, right?"

"Yeah, that's what I thought!" Theo cried, "Anyway, Madame Pomfrey assured me it was a side effect of the potion she was drinking. Seems like Hermione got hurt worse than I thought. Who the hell has a trapdoor as the entrance to their classroom? Anyway, have you seen Longbottom? I'm supposed to give him something. Oh, never mind, I found him. See you guys!"

The boy spoke so fast that by the time he had made it to Neville's side, he was doubled over and out of breath. Hasan wondered what type of note Theo could have for Neville, but Hasan guessed that it was a teacher's note and not one of his own, because obviously Theo could just talk to Neville if he ever wanted to tell him something. And by the way Neville's eyes flickered up to the head table, where Dumbledore was gazing at him knowingly, Hasan would hazard a guess the note came from Dumbledore. But why?

"Anyway," Draco tried again, "the snake?"

Daphne poked her carrots. "Just give it up Draco. That class was bloody awful. I'm praying I forget it."

Tracey agreed and the table was silent. But Hasan noticed that Draco seemed extremely disappointed, especially when the blond stole a glance at the infamous Defense professor, Alastor Moody. Hasan wondered absently as he chewed his food why Severus looked so uncomfortable to be seated next to Moody, when that morning there was but a little dislike and mutual respect.

.oOo.

Neville walked into the Great Hall flanked by Ginny and Ron. He was still shaken up from Defense class, but was feeling slightly better after Herbology. There was just something very soothing in the way he could care for a little life that wasn't his own.

"Neville!" Ginny whined, "I'm going to try out for quidditch this year! Are you?"

Neville flushed. He wasn't athletic by any means and the whole school knew it. How could they forget their first Quidditch demonstration when Neville managed to injure himself without doing anything?

"Eh, yeah, maybe." Neville mumbled.

"Ah, it's okay." Ron said in partial understanding, "But you don't need to feel sorry for those Slytherins. Having you on our team wouldn't be an unfair advantage. Even if you are the Boy-Who-Lived!"

Neville flushed even deeper. "Er, that's not exactly it."

At that moment, Nott had caught up with them, panting wildly as he clutched his kneecaps.

"Hey...Neville." he smiled tiredly. Ginny tried not to sneer as Ron looked stupidly curious. "I got something for you, from Dumbledore." he said, fishing the letter from his bag.

Neville took it carefully, before discreetly catching the headmaster's eye over crowd. What could the man want from him? Not that he wasn't pleased. No—Neville had gotten used to his ill-built fame over the months and owed it all to Professor Dumbledore. What, with the right training, Neville was convinced he could be just as good as any missing Harry Potter. As Moody had so tactfully shown them today, all it really took was a well-aimed Avada Kedavra and poof! Voldemort would be dead!

"Hey, what's it say, mate?" Ron asked him.

"I need to meet with Dumbledore about something." Neville paraphrased quickly. "I need to leave now. I'll catch up with you later, okay?"

Nott had stayed to hear this last bit before slinking back to the Slytherin table. Ginny and Ron just shrugged and watched him leave.

"Hmm, isn't it so great we're friends with the Boy-Who-Lived?" Ginny mused.

"Yeah," Ron said. "When he finally defeats You-Know-Who, we'll be on the front cover of the Daily Prophet too!"

Meanwhile, Neville was racing down the corridor when he spotted Luna wandering aimlessly in the front hall.

"Er, Luna, what are you doing?" Neville asked, trying to be kind, but failing. He sounded like he had just witnessed the stupidest thing in his life and that Luna was an idiot. Part of this was attributed to his very emotion state (seeing those snakes being tortured didn't really lift one's spirit), and his rather haughty feeling of importance (Dumbledore wanted to see him! Him!)

"I'm making sure I know where the castle is!" she answered happily, sending him an angelic smile.

"But you're IN that castle." Neville informed her slowly as if she couldn't understand the simplest of concepts.

Luna pouted, "You're no fun! Of course I'm in the castle, silly. But that's not going to help me find it again when I leave. Hey, you could come with me and help me find my way back!"

Neville looked rather doubtful. "I have to meet Professor Dumbledore right now. Maybe next time." he said absently.

Luna nodded sweetly. "You're welcome to come at any time."

Neville waved, uncaring. "Bye Luna."

The girl walked towards the front door. "Good-bye, Mr. Longbottom!"

.oOo.

Upon reaching the gargoyles which guarded the headmaster's office, Dumbledore seemed to magically appear from the shadows.

"How did you do that, sir?" Neville asked in wonder.

Albus smiled. "Just a trick I've picked up. Come, come. Gumdrops!"

Neville wasn't exactly sure what he was in for when he had received that special invitation. Perhaps he was going to learn advanced spells, or maybe healing techniques, or even how to duel!

"Sir?" he asked politely, "Aren't people going to wonder why you're not at dinner?"

The old man seemed to smile at this as he bumbled around the office. "That would go for you too, Mr. Longbottom, but I would hope the polyjuice potion would be enough to fool them."

"Polyjuice potion, sir?" Neville wondered.

The headmaster nodded to himself, still rummaging around his overstuffed drawers. "Yes, it allows the drinker to become anyone he wants—in appearance only. The man who you saw at the head table was not me, I assure you. His name is Kingsley Shacklebolt and he's an auror who is helping me to protect this school."

"But why does he need to be in disguise? If he's an auror, he's allowed to be here...right?"

"Yes in theory," Dumbledore sighed, "But there is some merit to having extra protection that isn't out in the open."

"But M-moody—" Neville stammered.

"Yes, well every bit of protection we can get matters!"

Neville frowned as the headmaster avoided his question, wondering if there wasn't some other reason Kingsley was here in disguise. Why would Dumbledore need a decoy? Was he afraid of being murdered? Did he need to leave the castle unattended at times? He was peeved that the headmaster didn't think highly enough of him to trust him. He was the bloody Boy-Who-Lived after all! But Neville was still too excited about receiving special lessons that he didn't seem much to care. And besides, he didn't want to offend the headmaster, his guiding mentor.

"Okay, sir. So what am I going to be learning?"

"Lots and lots!" Albus smiled, just as his hand grasped something on the back of his shelf. "Ah, got it!"

Neville tried not to wonder why the most magical man on earth did not use a simple accio.

"What is that, sir?" Neville queried as the headmaster held up a dusty crystal vial.

"Memories." Dumbledore explained. "My memories to be precise. Neville, I am not lying when I say this war rests on the shoulders of everyone, especially you. These memories are the key to winning the war. Tonight, we are going to take a trip down memory lane to Tom Riddle's past."

"Tom Riddle, sir?"

Albus's keen blue eyes flickered towards him. "You do recall the diary, do you not, Neville?"

"The diary...of Tom Riddle?" Neville wildly guessed.

"Yes, I believe I have it right here, ah! Here it is!" The headmaster pulled out the tattered remains of a book which had the most peculiar hole singed through it. "This, my dear boy, is why we're here. Why Voldemort exists. Why everything has happened the way it has. These memories will explain exactly how it came to pass."

Neville nodded as if he understood, but inside he was in deep thought. Though he took credit for the two times he had defeated Voldemort in school, he knew that the others had been there with him. If he didn't know what this diary was, then maybe they did? And this thought unsettled him, because if the diary truly was that important, then that would mean...his friends played a bigger role than he did! And that just wasn't possible!

Albus waved his arm, causing a large stone basin to float from his glass cabinet to his desk. He poured the contents of the vial inside and waited. Neville watched as ghostlike figures moved around the little bowl. Without really thinking, he leaned forward...

The memories he saw had one thing in common: a young, handsome boy named Tom Riddle. To think that this charismatic youth would become the world's most feared villain was almost ludicrous seeing the child for the first time. Neville didn't detect the signs which Albus would later regret not acting on. Neville didn't see the way the young boy thirsted for power, for revenge, and for blood. He didn't understand the significance of the trophies. What was muggle junk compared to a magical diary which sucked out life? But they were the same, and this was the idea which Albus was trying to impress.

"How many are there?" Neville asked. "Did he really make more than one?"

"I believe he succeeded in making six, although he had originally planned to create seven. Even one is too many and enough to unsettle anyone in mind and in magic."

"So how do you destroy them?"

Albus gave him a thoughtful look. "Since you cannot remember that night in the Chamber of Secrets last year, I am going to assume this diary was destroyed with Basilisk venom. Unfortunately, the entrance to the chamber seems to have disappeared again so that's not an option..."

The headmaster looked at him hopefully, as if Neville would suddenly remember the entrance. Neville tried not to show his discomfort at this. Sure, he had been there, but he couldn't remember a thing. How much had he really done? And who had really done it? He knew he was significant in the eyes of the wizarding world, but he began to doubt his own power.

"Sir...I've been meaning to ask you, if I could destroy this horcrux, then why did we ever search for Harry Potter? It seems that anyone can destroy Voldemort."

"Precisely!" Dumbledore smiled, glad that Neville was finally thinking. "Anyone can destroy the horcruxes!"

Neville sighed in relief. He didn't want to think about what would happen if he got close to killing Voldemort, only to have his farce fall apart when the man either didn't die or he didn't have the power to kill him. "Thank you, headmaster."

It was only after the Longbottom boy had left that Albus began to think of what would happen after the horcruxes were destroyed. Would they need the prophesized child after all? Albus tried not to think about the fact that Harry Potter was missing and most likely dead. He also tried not to think about who had lost him...

.oOo.

Severus Snape wasn't exactly sure why Altair thought it necessary to preorder a book for him instead of just sending him a copy, but at least it got him out of the castle for a while. He wasn't too comfortable in the castle now, knowing that Barty Crouch Junior was really playing Alastor Moody. He supposed he should tell Dumbledore about this sooner or later, but right now he was just focused on the task ahead. Besides, he already had a throbbing headache from the Dark Lord's little meeting that morning and didn't need Dumbledore yelling at him too.

Strolling down to Tomes and Scrolls wrapped in a black cloak, Severus was on high alert bordering on paranoid. The shop itself was small from the outside, but magic had enlarged the space inside so that it surpassed the size of Hogwarts' library. The man at the counter had medium length grey hair with strands of brown. He also had a few crooked teeth and heavy golden spectacles.

As soon as Severus entered, the man's head popped up from his book and he greeted his new customer with a large smile.

"What can I do for you?"

Severus slid him the receipt, curious himself as to what the book could be.

"Ah!" the man said, "yes, that's a good one. An old one." He grabbed the book from the shelf behind him, labelled with a red tag. "And expensive too! Mind Magick! It's glad to know the practice isn't out of date."

Practice? Mind Magick? He was now more intrigued than ever.

"Well here you go!" the man said, wrapping it in brown paper. "Enjoy!"

Snape returned to the castle feeling giddy almost. What secrets would this book contain? And what was so special about chapter 7? By the time Snape arrived at the school, most of the student population was already at dinner, but apparently not all as Miss Lovegood was wandering the halls. He made a beeline for his chambers, determined not to deal with any of the cretins before he knew what was inside his book.

He locked his rooms with a muttered spell before settling at his desk and unwrapping it. The cover was brand new in black with silver letters painted over it. He flipped to the table of contents and searched down for chapter 7. Surprisingly, there were only seven chapters which made up the heavy tome:

Chapter 1: The Practice of Legilimency

Chapter 2: The Art of Occlumency

Chapter 3: The Personalities of Portraits

Chapter 4: Retaining Sense as an Animagus

Chapter 5: Obliviation not Oblivion

Chapter 6: Pensieves of Stone

Chapter 7: Pensieves of Flesh

Pensieves of Flesh...Severus suppressed a shudder. To think that this was ever commonly practiced or known of was scary in itself. Flipping to the correct page, Snape began to read...

.oOo.

By the time the first day had ended, Hasan was exhausted. He hadn't gotten a very good night's sleep thanks to the Dark Lord, and then his tealeaves had to go remind him of his dream again. Just to pile Pelion on Ossa, Moody had not only ambushed him, but he had tortured several snakes as well! So by the time he had gotten to dinner, he really couldn't take any more of Draco's infuriating behavior.

He was constantly reminded of the war through his dreams, through his classmates, and through his classes. It made his stomach churn, his heart speed up. It was as if he were poisoning himself with stress, thinking of everything he had to do, everything he was expected to do, and everything he hadn't done. Excusing himself shortly from the Slytherin table, he trudged to his dormitory, hoping for some peace and quiet, just to think.

This feeling? It was anxiety which made his fists clench on air, his breathing to come out labored despite any opposing force—it was a part of who he was, and he sure as hell wasn't going to let his weakness show. What he really needed was to be prepared. He couldn't take another day with Moody acting like a complete bastard even if he was supposedly an auror, and though he hated to admit it, he was extremely pained by how Draco was treating him. He needed to do something.

It was a compulsion which led him to Professor Snape's door without regret or shame. He knocked quickly and evenly, determined for something although he wasn't sure what.

.oOo.

Severus started as he saw Hasan Castell at his door. Words from the book whirred around in his mind: danger, tethered, draining, power. Not wanting anyone to see, he immediately invited the boy inside.

"Hasan-!" Severus greeted in surprise.

"I need your help!" Hasan blurted.

"My...help?" He quirked a supercilious eyebrow, wondering what the boy could have gotten himself into this time. It was way too early in the year for another life and death problem.

"Yes! I don't know! Just, teach me! I need to defeat the Dark Lord! I'm running out of time!"

Severus wasn't sure what brought this on, but he knew that Hasan's feelings weren't totally out of place. Dangerous times were drawing near, especially with the Dark Lord's resurrection coming up.

"Hasan, just tell me what's happening."

The Castell boy took a deep breath before beginning. "I had another vision this morning- of the attack of Professor Moody. It was dark and I couldn't see much but...I was that snake again—Nagini and oh, god, I bit him!"

"It's alright, it wasn't you. Go on, Hasan."

"Later in the day, I had Defense Against the Dark Arts and Professor Moody showed us the three unforgiveable curses"-Snape sucked in a breath-"and it made me realize that this is war. No matter if something is illegal or not, people are going to be using it. Severus, we're not ready! The whole class was ready to fall in tears or vomit. I was ready to fall into tears and vomit! I could barely handle a snake getting killed, what if it's a person? And then Draco...I know you're his godfather and all, but he's been given a task, you know he has. I knew the Dark Lord was returning, but I didn't imagine I'd be scrutinized all year by my...classmates! (He refused to call Draco his friend.) When this war does happen, I want to be prepared!" He was nearly hysterical at this point, close to breaking down. It was so different from his normal apathy that Severus wasn't sure what to do. Cuddle him? Pat his back? Say there, there? Hasan could not have gone to a worse person.

"Hasan, listen to me. You're right that we need to be as ready as we can for this war, but you don't need to feel this stressed. The Dark Lord doesn't even have a fully functioning body as of yet, and I should know. We will make sure you are prepared, Hasan. I promised this last year and I am a man of my word. I'll teach you Occlumency to prevent these visions. Is that alright?"

The boy looked down, very much relieved. He suddenly felt very vulnerable and a little stupid for opening up like that. The Professor didn't need his ranting on top of what he must have gone through today. Why could he have just asked for the damn Occlumency lessons in the first place without all the drama and emotion?

Severus sensed something was wrong again and sighed. "Perhaps we should take a break before we start. Besides, there is something I think we need to talk about."

Hasan nodded, feeling exhausted but much better than he had. He settled on the offered couch as Severus ordered biscuits and tea from a house elf.

"Your father contacted me." Severus began, earning a suspicious look from the boy. "He...he told me about the memories." Severus was good at lying, he had to be, but he felt uneasy about lying now. Altair did tell him about the memories, but only after Severus had provoked him with news of him being Harry Potter.

"What did he say?" Hasan asked apathetically, reverted to his previous state as if to steady himself.

"He sent me this-" Here, Severus summoned the large black tome from his table, already opened to the page about Extraction. "Mind Magick by Omnia."

Hasan recognized the cover with a start, "That's- Luna got that for me for my birthday. My father sent you that?"

Snape nodded. "Have you read it yet?"

"Twice over, but I don't understand everything," he admitted.

"Your father said to read chapter seven. Pensieves of the Flesh. There is a way to extract the memories from your mind and return them to the original source, but it is complicated. I have only had time to read the introduction and already it has mentioned several things which I do not have immediately at my disposal. Although we can't start today, I thought I should tell you that there is a way."

"Thank you." Hasan murmured. He reached forward for a biscuit and chewed it thoughtfully. At least something was going right.

"Now about Occlumency," Severus began. "It's an art form, a very useful art form which can protect you. It shields the mind from those who will attempt to take information from it through Legilimency. People have different ways of shielding their thoughts. Some people prefer traps, or walls, or even oceans. Whatever you choose, the main objective is to lock that person out."

"What do you think of, Severus?" Hasan enquired.

"At this point, I try not to think." he admitted, "But usually it is because I am otherwise occupied"-with the cruciatus, he almost added. "You don't need to pick one just yet. Usually it is developed through trial and error, so we won't know what works best for you until you actually try it."

Hasan finished his biscuit and took a sip of tea. Severus was too exhausted for food. "I want to try it." Hasan told him determinedly.

"Alright, but I just want to warn you that I may see some things inside your head while you 'get the hang of it'. Rest assured, I am not trying to dig for anything that will hurt you, but sometimes your mind will shove those memories to the forefront as they are the memories which you would most want to protect."

"I understand."

Severus nodded. He wasn't sure if he would suffer any damage entering into a mind already occupied by Lucius and the Dark Lord, but he knew that Hasan desperately needed this protection.

"On three...One...Two...Three- Legilimens!"