Chapter 3 Occlumency and Legilimency
Saturday morning found Harry sitting on his bed with the Pensieve in front of him while Hedwig was sitting on Dean’s footboard asleep. He was slowly pulling a silver strand of memory from his head and placing it in the Pensieve. Ginny came bouncing into the dorm and sat on Harry’s bed. “What you doing?” Harry was shocked to see her still wearing her nightgown and an old faded blue robe.
“I went to Professor McGonagall’s office early this morning and she showed me how to use this. She told me to practice with it until I felt comfortable with it. Since you were still asleep, I have been practicing. Dumbledore once told me that he used his to help him observe and clarify his thoughts, so that’s what I have been doing,” Harry responded.
“Oh, so what memories do you have in there?” Ginny teased as she crossed her legs, Indian style.
Harry looked Ginny in the eyes, “You!”
“Well then, there won’t be very many!” Ginny joked.
Harry’s eyes twinkled, “Actually, you would be surprised. I never realized how many memories of you I did have. I guess my back brain has been collecting images of you since the first time I saw you on Platform 9 ¾.”
“You are teasing me,” Ginny squeaked as she bounced on Harry’s bed. Harry noticed a very particular piece of clothing missing while Ginny was bouncing. This began to cause Harry some discomfort.
“No, I’m not. I just wish my front brain had realized it. Would you like to see some of my fondest ones?” Harry asked with a smile while keeping his eyes firmly fixed on her eyes.
“Sure, if you don’t care,” Ginny said with a smile too, but with some disappointment. She was concerned that Harry’s eyes were not moving to certain parts of her body.
Harry stirred the Pensieve with his wand and the first image to appear was of an eleven year old girl flying down the stairs at the Burrow dressed in her nightgown, stopping suddenly, and then flying back up the stairs. Harry stirred the Pensieve again. This image was of the same girl sitting at a table, who then accidentally put her elbow in the butter. Once again, Harry stirred the Pensieve. This image was of Ginny on her stomach in the living room of the Burrow repairing one of her school books with Spellotape.
Harry looked up at Ginny whose face was blushing, but her voice cracked, “Those are your favorite?”
Harry smiled harder, “No, those are my fondest. This is my favorite.” Once again, he stirred the Pensieve and this image showed the Gryffindor common room where a party was going on and then a streak of red hair when flying across the room and jumped on Harry and kissed him.
Ginny blushed harder, “That’s my favorite too, Harry.”
Harry leaned across the Pensieve and kissed Ginny. Breaking apart, he asked her if she wanted to learn how to use the Pensieve. Harry was relieved to see Ginny eager to learn how to use the Pensieve. He was sure that Ginny wanting to do something else but he wasn’t ready.
Ginny was disappointed that Harry wasn’t picking up the signals she was sending. Moving to get closer to Harry so he could show her how to use the Pensieve, she caught Harry looking at her chest. ”Maybe he is just not ready. It has only been a few days since we got back together. I’ll give him a few days to get used to the idea.”
An hour later, Harry was getting uncomfortable. While showing Ginny the Pensieve, Ginny had moved closer and closer to Harry, ending up pressed against Harry’s side. “Uh, Ginny, it is getting late. Don’t you need to go get dressed?”
“I am dressed.”
“In clothes!”
“But I am wearing clothes, Harry.” Ginny said with a smirk.
“Ginny!”
“Okay, Harry,” as she kissed him. “I brought a few things with me. I just need some space in your trunk.”
“My trunk! What are you doing?”
“I’m putting some of my clothes in your trunk so I don’t have to keep going back to my dorm to change.” Ginny informed Harry
“Ginny, this isn’t proper. Your Mum will kill me.”
“Harry, she is your Mum now, too. Besides, I’ll be sleeping in Ron’s bed.” ”At least for the first couple of nights!”
“Where is Ron sleeping?”
“Hermione and he are using the Sixth year dorm.”
Speechless, Harry just nodded slowly. Ginny opened Harry’s trunk and shook her head. “No one has taught you the packing charm, I see.” Harry simply shook his head. Casting a charm that he didn’t quite catch, Harry saw everything fly out of the trunk and then return to it. Looking over the lid and into the trunk, Harry was amazed to see everything neatly and orderly packed. Ginny retrieved her bag and levitated everything out of her overnight bag. Harry had the impression that all of Ginny’s clothes except for her school and dress robes were floating around his bed. Harry blushed when he saw several pairs of knickers, bras, and nightgowns floating in the air before they too disappeared into his trunk.
“Right then, I’ll go change now.” Ginny walked over to the head of Harry’s bed where a complete set of clothes were laid out on his bed. Ginny picked up the clothing and headed for the bathroom. Before going through the door, she turned back to Harry with a mischievous smile, “No peeking, now.”
Down in the common room, Hermione and Ron were playing a game of wizard chess with his new set. The game was fairly even, as there was a heated conversation going on that was breaking Ron’s concentration. “Hermione, will you please write to your parents?” Ron begged.
“No!” Hermione voiced sternly. “Ron, you wrote a very good letter. I only had to correct a few words. I don’t know why my parents haven’t answered it. I’m not going to beg them. I am of legal age and if they don’t approve, then so be it! Checkmate!”
Ron was stunned, not only by the announcement of checkmate, but by Hermione’s attitude. “Hermione, I love you and I just want everything to be proper.”
Just at that moment, Remus and Tonks came through the portal. Tonks and Remus were holding hands. Good Morning. What are you up to, today?” Remus called.
“Nothing much, we just finished a game,” Hermione informed them. Seeing Remus and Tonks holding hands, she grinned and teasingly asked, “What are you two doing?”
“We had to see Minerva for something for the Order and then decided to spring you out of here for a couple of hours in Hogsmeade. Where is Harry and Ginny?” Remus wondered.
“Upstairs,” said Ron. “I will go get them.” Tonks was smiling, but it changed to surprise when all three came bouncing down the stairs almost immediately. Tonks was sure they were going to have to wait on Harry and Ginny to get ‘ready’.
“What are we going to do in Hogsmeade?” said Harry, excited about getting out of the castle for a few hours.
Tonks answered, “Well, I understand us girls need to shop for some wedding robes and you boys can do whatever you would like,” waving her hand in a flyaway motion. “Congratulations to all of you,” Tonks beamed, giving Ginny and Hermione a wink and a kiss while Remus shook Ron and Harry’s hand.
When the group got to Hogsmeade, the girls all wanted to go to Gladrags Wizardwear first. The guys started into Gladrags Wizardwear, but the girls wouldn’t let them go in. They were told they were not allowed to see the wedding robes until the day of the wedding.
The boys took the opportunity to race over to a small jewelry shop at the edge of the village called Gems for Love, where Ron looked to buy Hermione a ring.
Harry and Remus made various suggestions to Ron but he just waved them away. Harry and Remus left Ron alone after that and just wandered around the shop looking at the jewelry. Meanwhile Ron was getting worried for he had looked at everything the shop had on display and couldn’t find anything that ‘spoke’ to him. Ron finally asked the shopkeeper if they were any rings not on display. The shopkeeper disappeared to into the back and brought out a small package.
“These just arrived today. I haven’t even opened the package yet.” He said, tearing the wrapping from the package. Once he opened it, he pulled two normal looking rings from the box and a third, which was different in color. “This is odd. Goblins don’t normally sent defective items out. This one must have been made by an apprentice.”
Ron was astounded, “I want that one,” pointing to the odd ring.
“But sir, this ring is defective.”
“I don’t care, I want it.”
“Sir…”
Ron quickly reached over and grabbed the ring, “Since it is defective, you won’t mind me having it.”
“You can’t do that, I have to send it back, get credit for it.”
“Well, to save you the trouble of sending it back since it is defective, and judging by the rest of your perfect rings, I’ll guess this one is only worth twenty Galleons. If you would be so kind to hand me some parchment and a quill, I’ll write a note to Gringotts to allow you to withdraw that amount from my account.”
The shopkeeper sputtered, “Twe…twe…twenty Galleons! You got to be nutters. It is worth at least forty Galleons.”
“Forty!” Ron shouted back, “It’s defective! Twenty-three Galleons.”
“Look, that ring has been in my family….thirty-five.”
“Your family! You just received it, twenty-seven.”
Harry and Remus watched Ron and the shopkeeper barter back and forth, both smiling at the two.
“It was sent in for repairs, thirty-one.”
“Oh, so now it is used and defective, twenty-nine, and that’s my last offer.”
“Twenty-nine Galleons and four Sickles,” the shopkeeper countered.
“Four Sickles! Okay, twenty-nine Galleons and four Sickles.” Ron and the shopkeeper shook hands, sealing the purchase. Ron wrote a quick letter authorizing the transfer of the Galleons and Sickles.
Harry and Remus came over to the counter and looked at the ring that caused so much shouting. It had a simple diamond surrounded by four sapphires. What really made it stand out was the gold had been tainted a red color, the same color of Ron’s hair. Harry could understand why Ron wanted it.
Harry, Ron, and Remus raced back to Gladrags but still had to wait what seemed like hours. However, it was only a short time before all three girls came out of robe shop with a twinkle in their eyes.
Honeydukes was their next stop. Harry, silently laughing, watched Ron go crazy seemingly trying to buy one of everything in the shop until Hermione gave him one of her ‘Professor McGonagall’ looks. Ron obediently put everything back except for some Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans. Ginny was much more reserved as she only bought a few Chocolate Frogs.
Seeing that they were done earlier than anticipated and with a few minutes to go before their meeting, Remus suggested their next stop to be Madam Puddifoot’s for a cup of tea and a snack. While in Madam Puddifoot’s, Remus gave them a quick update of the war. He informed them that Kingsley Shacklebolt had been ambushed while leaving his home, but was able to kill one of the two Death Eaters. There was no sign of Draco, his mother, or Snape. After everyone had finished their tea, Remus informed the teenagers that it was time to meet their new teacher.
Leaving Madam Puddifoot’s, the two younger couples turned towards The Three Broomsticks, but Remus called, “Excuse me, we need to go this way please.” Remus led them down the street to The Hog’s Head.
"Why are we meeting him in there?" Hermione asked.
"Well, Aberforth is the owner," Remus informed her.
The Hog’s Head was still dark, clammy, and dusty. Harry wasn’t sure due to the darkness, but there appeared to be no customers in the pub. Directing the kids to the back, Remus indicated they were to go upstairs. Knocking on the first door they came to, Remus slowly pushed the door open and called, “Aberforth?”
“Come in, come in,” a voice answered from the back of the room. This room was totally opposite of the first floor because it was as clean as the downstairs was dirty. Looking around, they noticed three sofas and a chair. “Sit, sit,” the voice said from a door at the back of the room. “I’ll be there in a minute, just getting some food and drinks together,” the voice called. Before Harry could sit down, he noticed a portrait of Dumbledore on the far wall, asleep.
Quietly, a man approached Harry who was still looking at the portrait. “This is the first time Albus has visited that portrait,” Aberforth said, startling Harry. Harry turned around and vaguely recognized the bartender from two years ago. Aberforth continued, “He was here when I woke up this morning. I guess he is learning to crawl.”
Harry was puzzled as this was the same reference that Professor McGonagall had used.
“Please sit,” indicating to Harry to sit, “let me introduce myself. I am Aberforth Dumbledore.” He waved his wand and bottles of butterbeer and a tray of snacks appeared on the small table that was between the sofas. Aberforth handed Remus, Tonks, and Harry a butterbeer, then continued, “I generally go by the name Aberforth, so as not to be mistaken with my brother. Albus left word that he would like me to finish your training in Occlumency and Legilimency, Harry, and to include you three also,” Aberforth indicated Ron, Ginny, and Hermione as he passed out bottles of butterbeer to them.
“Mr. Aberforth,” Harry began.
“Please, just Aberforth, Harry,” he instructed.
Harry’s voiced cracked, “Well Aberforth, I didn’t like the Occlumency lessons with Snape. I got terrible headaches and my scar hurt for days after. Plus, I don’t think I learned anything. Voldemort was still able to get into my mind and it nearly got some of my friends killed…did kill my godfather, Sirius,” Harry mumbled.
“Harry, you did learn a little from Snape. I don’t think he was real interested in teaching you as much as he was in hurting you. I think Snape was envious of your fame. Snape also hated your dad and I think he used the lessons to punish you for your dad’s behavior towards him,” consoled Aberforth.
Aberforth assured the four, “My method of teaching is totally different and more pleasant, especially having three good friends to help you. Once you learn how to do Occlumency and Legilimency with friends, it is just a small step to use them against your enemies.”
“Why do you keep saying Legilimency?” Harry wondered aloud.
“One goes with the other. First you learn to block your mind from unwanted intrusion; secondly, you learn how to enter another’s mind to find his weakness,” proclaimed Aberforth.
“Harry, how many times were you in my brother’s company and you got the feeling Albus knew you were not telling the whole truth. Albus did know, he always knew. Like now,” Aberforth stated, “not once have you or your friends noticed that I was in each of your minds. Harry, I can understand you not wanting to learn Occlumency and Legilimency if Snape did nothing but make you relive bad memories like the one with the dog and tree I just saw.”
Harry gasped.
“Snape’s method was cruel, but brute force is not the best method; it alerts your intentions to your opponent,” Aberforth lectured the four. “I mean, look at me, you would never suspect me of being a spy for the Order?” All four teen shook their heads no. “Well, I am. I have been since the first war. I don’t attend meetings or go on missions such as Remus and Tonks here, but I would bet The Hog’s Head, that I have gathered more information in one month for the Order than these two have the whole time they have been in the Order.” The four looked at him with shock faces. “Snape’s brute force is only good if you don’t care about getting any more information from your enemy in the future. My method allows me to collect information for years. Some of my customers have been providing the Order with quite good information for years!”
When no one said anything, he announced, “Alright then, I’ll see you Monday morning.” The three couple bid Aberforth ‘bye’ and returned to the castle.
After dinner, Harry and Ginny were lying on Harry’s bed with Ginny draped on Harry chest and shoulder. Hedwig had already left to go hunting. “Harry, what are we going to do about this ‘heir’ thing Grorn was so interested in?” Ginny teased.
“Ginny, I don’t care what Grorn wants, but when the time is right, I want a house full of red-haired kids,” declared Harry.
Giggling, Ginny was amazed to find out Harry’s dream of a house full of kids was the same as hers. Of course, she wouldn’t mind a few black-haired ones, too. “Would you like to start soon after we are married?” She asked with a touch of anticipation.
“No, you have two years of school left and we still have to fight Voldemort,” Harry softly declared.
“Aren’t you worried about the ‘heir’ thing?” Ginny quizzed him.
“Honey, why do you keep bringing that up?” Harry asked.
“Harry, I am just scared that if anything were to happen, there wouldn’t be an heir,” Ginny explained.
Harry squeezed Ginny a little tighter. “Ginny, nothing is going to happen; besides, there is no guarantee that the first child will be male. I don’t think Voldemort will wait for us to have a son.”
“Well,” Ginny started hesitantly, “Hermione and I went to the library after we got back from Hogsmeade. Something Grorn said didn’t feel right, so I asked Hermione to help me find the information. She brought that ‘fact-finder’ with her which helped greatly as we didn’t have to go through every book in the library. While there isn’t a whole lot of information about your family and what kind of work they did, one curious fact became apparent. The first child born to each and every Potter since Sir Potter has been male!” Ginny boasted.
Harry stopped breathing but didn’t realize he had until the pain in his chest became unbearable. Remembering to breath, Harry gasped out, “Honey, are you sure?”
“Yes,” Ginny declared. “I think that first ring he gave you has more than one charm in it. I think it has to be worn on one of those ‘special days’ so it guarantees a male heir. Harry, if you want to ‘produce’ that heir, I am willing!” she proposed as she looked deep into his eyes.
Harry couldn’t think of anything right to say to this, so he kissed Ginny long and hard.
A/N Chapter 4 Awakening