Soon, the classroom door opened sharply and Professor McGonagall stormed inside.
"Oh, for Merlin's sake! Why aren't any of you helping Professor Umbridge?" she demanded, staring at the students and then at the fallen chandelier.
She immediately raised her wand.
"Wingardium Leviosa."
The chandelier rose from the floor, revealing Umbridge underneath it. McGonagall moved it safely to one side before turning back towards the class.
Victor remained exactly where he was, his textbook open on his desk.
"We were following Professor Umbridge's lessons," he said calmly. "She taught us that when a wizard encounters any sort of danger or trouble, they shouldn't take matters into their own hands. They should contact the appropriate authority instead."
He looked around at the others.
"Isn't that what we learned?"
Harry nodded.
Hermione nodded as well, followed by Ron, Neville and several others.
McGonagall looked at the students, then at Umbridge.
"I see."
Umbridge slowly got to her feet, her pink cardigan covered in dust. Her eyes immediately settled on Victor.
She knew exactly what he was doing.
Victor met her furious stare with an innocent expression.
Umbridge's lips tightened.
"Mr. Malfoy…"
"Yes, Professor?"
Her eyes narrowed further.
"You were quite capable of helping me."
Victor glanced towards the chandelier.
"I didn't want to interfere with a dangerous situation, Professor. You taught us not to."
Umbridge's face turned an even deeper shade of pink.
McGonagall looked between them, clearly beginning to understand what had happened.
Victor simply returned his attention to his textbook.
"I'm only following the lesson."
Umbridge looked as though she wanted nothing more than to raise her wand and hex Victor on the spot. She clearly had not expected her own lesson to be turned against her so neatly, and the fact that the entire class had followed his reasoning only made her more furious.
McGonagall, meanwhile, was having considerable difficulty keeping her expression stern. She certainly wasn't going to laugh in front of Umbridge, but seeing one of Umbridge's carefully imposed rules backfire so spectacularly was not something she found particularly disappointing.
She cleared her throat.
"Although it is generally advisable to follow the instructions given in your lessons, Mr. Malfoy, in circumstances such as these, you should make some effort to assist someone who is in danger."
Victor nodded immediately.
"Of course, Professor. I will definitely help others."
McGonagall studied him for a moment.
Victor's expression was perfectly sincere.
The distinction was obvious.
Others.
Not Umbridge.
Umbridge's eye twitched.
McGonagall turned away before the corner of her mouth could betray her.
"Now, Mr. Malfoy, perhaps you and the rest of the class could return to your work."
"Yes, Professor."
***
By the end of November, winter had properly settled over Hogwarts. Snow covered the grounds, the windows rattled occasionally in the cold wind, and the castle grew quieter at night.
Harry was asleep in Gryffindor Tower when the dream began.
He was standing in a dark, unfamiliar corridor. Somewhere ahead, something was moving through the shadows.
Then he saw a flash of red hair.
Arthur Weasley was there.
He was lying on the floor, blood running from his robes as something enormous moved around him. Harry tried to run towards him, but his legs would not move. The creature struck again, and Arthur cried out.
Harry shouted.
He woke violently in his bed, breathing hard.
Ron was still asleep in the bed beside him.
Harry sat there for several seconds, trying to convince himself it had only been a nightmare. But the image of Arthur lying injured refused to leave his mind.
He knew it hadn't been an ordinary dream.
Harry hurried out of the dormitory and eventually found Dumbledore, who listened carefully as Harry described what he had seen.
Dumbledore's expression became serious.
"You believe you were seeing something that was actually happening?"
"Yes."
Dumbledore did not dismiss him.
Instead, he arranged for Harry to be taken to his office, where the matter was discussed with the other adults who needed to know. It soon became clear that Arthur was in danger while on duty at the Ministry.
The dream had shown Harry something real.
Arthur was found badly injured but alive, and the discovery confirmed one thing Dumbledore had already begun to fear: Voldemort could somehow influence Harry's mind.
That meant Harry's connection to Voldemort was becoming a serious problem.
And there was only one person at Hogwarts whom Dumbledore believed could teach Harry how to defend his mind.
Severus Snape.
The first Occlumency lesson took place in Snape's office.
Harry stood opposite Snape while a Pensieve sat nearby on the desk.
Snape's expression was as unpleasant as ever.
"Occlumency is the magical defence of the mind against external penetration," he said. "If you are incapable of controlling your thoughts, you will be incapable of preventing another wizard from entering them."
Harry gripped his wand more tightly.
Snape raised his own.
"Clear your mind."
Harry frowned.
"How?"
Snape's expression became colder.
"That is precisely what you are here to learn."
He lifted his wand.
"Legilimens."
Harry's mind was immediately flooded with memories.
The cupboard under the stairs.
Hagrid's arrival.
Hogwarts.
Victor.
The graveyard.
Voldemort.
Harry tried desperately to push the memories away, but the harder he fought, the more violently they came rushing forward.
Snape broke the connection.
Harry staggered backwards.
"Again."
Harry stared at him.
"You could at least tell me what I'm supposed to do."
"I have."
"You said clear my mind!"
"Yes."
"How?"
Snape's eyes narrowed.
"That is the lesson, Potter."
The next attempt was no easier.
Snape forced Harry through another series of memories before finally releasing him.
From then on, the lessons became a regular part of Harry's week.
*****
A/N : 🔥 On Patreon🔥
⚡ A 15-chapter early access is available for those who want to read ahead ⚡
👉 patreon.com/JakeA30