Occlumency (OP)
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Occlumency is the twenty-fourth chapter of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Contents |
Bad news
Sirius eventually finds Kreacher in the attic, covered in dust. Harry remains uneasy, noticing that the house-elf's behavior is strange, and somewhat more docile. The boy says nothing to his godfather, however; Sirius' good mood is evaporating as the children's return to Hogwarts draws nearer.
Molly calls Sirius' bad moods "fits of the sullens"—when they happen, he often becomes grumpy and shuts himself in Buckbeak's room for several hours a day. His gloom infects the house, and everyone inside it: Harry, in particular, feels terrible about leaving Sirius alone in number twelve, Grimmauld Place, and dreads returning to Umbridge's regime.
To make matters worse, on the last day of holidays, Harry receives terrible news. He is playing wizard chess against Ron—Hermione, Ginny and Crookshanks are watching them—when Molly calls him to the kitchen so that Snape can talk to him.
The other three stare at Harry. Crookshanks starts attacking the chess pieces. The children are apprehensive, and Harry goes downstairs.
Occlumency
Harry enters the kitchen to find Sirius and Severus seated at the kitchen table, each staring at a different direction. A letter lies open in front of Sirius. Snape commands the boy to sit down; Sirius intervenes, asking the Potions master not to give orders in his house.
Severus flushes. Harry obeys anyway, sitting right next to his godfather, who states that he's insisted on being present at this meeting on precisely that capacity.
"By all means stay, Black, I know you like to feel ... involved," Snape says quietly. "I am sure you must feel — ah — frustrated by the fact that you can do nothing useful for the Order."
Sirius flushes. Snape announces to Harry that it is Dumbledore's wish that the boy should study Occlumency—"the magical defence of the mind against external penetration"— this semester. There will be private lessons once a week, and no one is to know about them.
Severus adds that he will be the teacher. Harry's insides melt with dread. Sirius asks why Albus cannot do the teaching; Snape sneers, "I suppose because it is a headmaster's privilege to delegate less enjoyable tasks. I assure you I did not beg for the job."
Turning to Harry, Severus schedules classes for six o'clock every Monday evening, at his office, under the pretence of remedial Potions.
Confrontation
He starts to leave, but Sirius beckons him to return ("I am in rather a hurry, Black. Unlike you, I do not have unlimited leisure time."). Sirius stands up—he is much taller—, and Snape clutches the wand in his pocket. "If I hear you're using these Occlumency lessons to give Harry a hard time, you'll have me to answer to."
"How touching," Snape replies. "But surely you have noticed that Potter is very like his father?"
"Yes, I have."
"Well, then, you'll know he's so arrogant that criticism simply bounces off him."
Sirius whips out his wand, and so does Severus. Black looks livid; Snape, calculating. Harry desperately stands between the two adults.
"I've warned you Snivellus," snarls Sirius, "I don't care if Dumbledore thinks you're reformed, I know better—"
"Oh, but why don't you tell him so? Or are you afraid he might not take very seriously the advice of a man who has been hiding inside his mother's house for six months?"
"Tell me, how is Lucius Malfoy these days? I expect he's delighted his lapdog is inside Hogwarts, isn't it?"
"Speaking of dogs, did you know that Lucius Malfoy recognised you last time you risked a little jaunt outside? Clever idea, Black, getting yourself seen on a safe station platform ... gave you a cast-iron excuse not to leave your hidey-hole in future."
Interruption
Sirius is highly offended at being called a coward. He tries to push Harry away, to no avail. Just as he orders Harry to budge, the kitchen door opens, and in comes the entire Weasley family, in front of which stands Arthur Weasley wearing striped pyjamas and a mackintosh.
He announces that he is cured, and only then notices the situation he's just tampered with. The arrival brings both Severus and Sirius to their senses; Snape leaves, after reminding Harry of their lesson next Monday.
This chapter summary is not done yet. Please be patient.
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| Christmas on the Closed Ward | Occlumency | The Beetle at Bay |
