First Occlumency lesson

Harry was yawning heavily. Being woken up at six in the morning by a Snape calling him lazy was not really his idea of a good start to the day. He had barely had time to eat and wash before Snape had dragged him into his basement to have the joy of watching him put long white strands (which he pulled from his head with his wand) into a basin adorned with numerous runes. Before Snape told him to move away with a growl that would have made Aunt Marge's bulldog envious, he saw that it was filled with some kind of mist.

Finally, he stopped his act and told him that they were going to start their first Occlumency lesson. He gave him a speech that he found quite abstruse on the difference between Legilimency and mind reading, then without further warning asked him to clear his mind before raising his wand in his direction and shouting:

Legilimens!

As soon as he had the impression that his head was going to explode and the memories flashed by so quickly that he couldn't even identify them. After a few seconds that seemed like an eternity to Harry, Snape stopped his spell.

Harry regained awareness of his surroundings and was assailed by pain in his knees. During the attack, he had collapsed against the cold paving of Snape's basement.

Pathetic. Commented the sorcerer.

But are you sick? You could have warned me that you were going to do that?

Oh pardon, excuse me. I thought you wanted to learn how to defend yourself against an attack. But it's true that your enemies would never dare to have the impoliteness to attack the great Harry Potter by surprise. And watch your language. Keep in mind that unlike your groupies, I would not tolerate the slightest misconduct from you.

As if I could forget it, professor. Added Harry, seeing that the latter was going to reprimand him.

This time try to defend yourself better.

Before Harry could protest, he cast the spell at him again. Now that he knew what to expect, he managed not to lose his footing. He was able to sense Snape's mind and see which memory he was heading towards. But he was still just as powerless to stop him from moving from one memory to another. No matter how hard he concentrated to push him back, Snape didn't seem even slowed down in his invasion, then he saw himself in his mud-stained Hogwarts uniform running towards Dobby's cries to find Lucius Malfoy.

At that moment, Harry was seized with panic. He had to prevent Snape from seeing the end of this memory at all costs. He redoubled his efforts, but it had the opposite effect. Seeing that it increased his student's strength, Snape insisted and focused on the memory. This sent Harry into a furious rage. A rage like he hadn't experienced since that fateful day when he was about to commit the irreparable.

HOW DARE YOU, MISERABLE WORM! THESE MEMORIES ARE PRIVATE. GET OUT OF MY HEAD! CRUCIO!

Suddenly it was as if reality shattered into a thousand pieces. His knees hurt. He had fallen to the ground again. He got up and realized he had a headache. Instinctively, he put his hand to his forehead and saw it was stained with blood. His scar was bleeding. Then, dazed, he looked around him anddropped his wand before rushing towards his teacher. He was lying on the ground and writhing in pain.

Professor, are you okay? What happened?

Snape turned his gaze to Harry. For a second, Harry saw something he didn't think possible. Snape seemed frightened. But it lasted so briefly that the boy convinced himself he had imagined it. He wore a cold, emotionless face once more. He pushed Harry away with a gesture, stood up, then staggered towards a cabinet where a set of potions was kept and swallowed one without even reading the label. After a few seconds, the potion took effect and he seemed to feel better. He then turned back to his student.

Well. Mr. Potter, it seems you have unsuspected resources. Explanation! Now!

Harry was unwell.

I don't know what happened, sir. I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you.

As you wish. As long as you do not have a better explanation to provide me, there will be no other Occlumency lesson.

I swear to you that I know nothing. I just felt immense anger and then I felt like I was losing control like when (...)

Yes, continue.

I can't tell you.

Oh you can't? Do you realize how serious what you just did is? You have launched an unforgivable. It would be enough for me to file a complaint and even your fame won't save you from a stay in Azkaban.

But it's not my fault, I can't control it. I just followed Lockhart's advice. Harry began to plead, tears in his eyes.

What is this incompetent Lockhart doing in this story? What has this twisted megalomaniac done to you?

Nothing. It's just. After the death of Lucas and Jenny, I wanted to find a way to get revenge. I didn't want to be powerless against Vol(..) You know who. Lockhart advised me to learn more about dark magic and gave me authorization for the reserve.

Lord! And like an idiot, you followed him. Don't you know that black magic corrupts the soul? If it is so powerful, it's because instead of drawing from your magic reserve, it draws from your being. A wizard of your age should never be confronted with it, and even less so without supervision!

I completely stopped after the first incident. I will never touch it again, I promise you. Anyway, it was completely useless against Tom.

What incident? And who is this Tom?

Tom is the real first name of Vol(..) you know who.

And the incident?

At the end of the year, I lost my cool a bit with Malfoy.Euphemize Harry.

Snape remained silent for a few minutes.

So that's why he's limping. I don't know what you did to him, but you're lucky he refuses to tell anyone what happened. I will keep your secret. Consider yourself lucky that I am someone particularly understanding. Many wouldn't have hesitated to immediately report you. However, you must learn to control yourself at all costs before the start of the school year. I will not take the risk that you "loseThe pedals" in front of another student. Fortunately, occlumency is an excellent means for that.

Thank you, sir.

If you are so eager to thank me, talk less and work more. Because of your unconscious actions, your mind is too unstable for us to use an effective teaching method. We will have to use gentler methods. During the coming week, we will only do meditation exercises. Sit down and try to clear your mind.

This news relieved Harry, who didn't know if he could have endured the professor fiddling with his brain again.

To make up for the delay involved in using a pedagogy intended for the mentally disabled, we will double the number of sessions.

How was he supposed to clear his mind next to someone so unbearable?