Chapter 11

Severus paced in front of his desk, along the well-worn patch on his office rug. He had just received a reply from his sister, Serena. She had recently moved into Snape Manor because of the untimely murder of her husband. Cad though he was, he did not deserve to die in such a fashion. Serena has two children, Russell, 5 years old, and Bridget, 4 years old.

Russell had recently developed a strange affinity to dragons. His mother took him too see some dragons at the nearest dragon camp. She said he enjoyed it so much he didn't want to leave. She left him in the care of Charlie Weasley; they had gone to school together and were friends despite the house rivalry

Not even a week into Russell's stay at the camp, Serena received a letter from Charlie requesting her immediate return to the camp. She hurried to the camp, fearing the worst. Charlie and Russell met her at the edge of the compound, to Serena's great relief.

Charlie then proceeded to tell her he had some good news and some bad news for her. He went on to explain how he had noticed strange interactions between Russell and the dragons. Charlie said Russell talked to the dragons, but the strange part was that they seemed to listen and respond to him. By the third day their suspicions were confirmed when he successfully calmed down a nesting dragon in a panic driven rage. This dragon couldn't be calmed by 20 of the best tamers on the compound, but one five-year-old boy managed it under a minute. Charlie explained how despite calming her she had squashed all but one of her eggs. When she discovered this she let out the loudest anguish filled roar any of them had heard before. Russell spent that night with her trying to comfort her.

Russell was the only living thing that the dragon would let anywhere near her or her last egg. Russell spent all his time with her, he brought her food, and he talked to her. The egg hatched the next day, and Russell spent all his time with the little dragon. Charlie said all this with pride in his eyes. But his face changed as he started to tell her the bad news. The mother dragon passed away during the night to unknown causes, and the baby dragon firmly attached itself to Russell. Charlie explained that Russell would have to stay at the camp as long as the dragon was attached to him.

Severus looked at the deep, angry grooves in the parchment and from the way Serena wrote it looked as if she was furious at Charlie for allowing Russell that close to a rampaging dragon. Severus was reasonably sure that Charlie got a taste of her wrath. Serena also wrote that she wanted Russell away from the compound. She had done some research and discovered some disturbing facts. Facts that happened to point out that Russell's talent indicated that he was quickly developing into a dragon mage. She also learned that dragon mages were extremely rare and dangerous. She had to threaten her late husband's mother, her in law, into revealing that her husband had been a dragon mage and her husband's father is also. Her mother in law revealed that she had sent her husband away when their son was born because she was terrified that their son would get hurt by one of her husband's dragons. Her son had gone away when the abilities manifested to be trained by his father. As far as she knew her husband was still living in the rocky mountain range in North America. Her purpose in sending her reply so quickly was to ask a great favor of Severus. He started to reread her hastily scrawled reply.

'…I must thank you for all that you have done for us. Words cannot express my gratitude. Knowing how much you have sacrificed, regardless of how much it pains me to ask for yet more help, I must implore your aid once again. Russell's quality of life depends upon it.

His grandfather is currently living in the rocky mountains of North America and I would like you to find and persuade this man to help Russell. If you agree to this large favor I will send the information you need to find him to you.

Sincerely Serena'

Severus sat at his desk and scribbled a hasty reply asking for the information. He attached the reply to his owl and watched it disappear. Severus would do anything for his sister he was beginning to believe.

Harry was still getting used to the mind link with his headmaster. The steady warmth in the pit of his stomach indicated that Professor Dumbledore was still alive and well. He wondered if Ginny felt the same thing and if she could tell the difference between his and the Professor's life force. He also wondered if the headmaster could sense his darker thoughts of late.

Nehebkau slithered up to rest on the arm of the chair he occupied. They were in the Gryffindor common room, situated in a dark corner. The old papyrus book lay open on his lap. The book seemed to be more of a documentation of Marie's training than a guide or instruction manual. Harry was sure that he would need Professor Dumbledore to teach him how to harness the elemental magic.

The page he was reading was an entry by Marie herself. She talked about how the awakened elements were going haywire. She complained of accidentally setting fire to things and causing a whirlpool in the lake. Harry was starting to feel a little worried but he pushed it aside.

"Nehebkau?" Harry hissed.

Nehebkau lifted her head from her coiled body and looked at Harry. "Yes?" She hissed in question.

" Did you find the answer to the question I asked you earlier?" he asked.

She looked confused for a second, but comprehension came swiftly. "Ah, yes. The milk of light. I think it may be possible with a few changes in ingredients, but it will be very difficult." She answered.

"Really, that's great." Harry said, "Can you help me write out the formula when my training session is over?" he asked hopefully.

"Sure Harry." Nehebkau answered laying her head down upon her coiled body once more.

Hermione was already running late for her first occlumency lesson with Professor Snape. She found she was very busy with head girl duties and she was already knee deep in homework on her first day of classes. This was definitely going to be a hectic year. Hermione was running now, through the dungeon hallways and she came skidding to a halt outside Snape's office door.

Hermione knocked on the door and received no reply from within. She knocked again, but still no answer. So she let herself in and saw Professor Snape pacing in front of his desk looking to be deep in thought.

"Professor?" Hermione asked tentatively. He looked worried about something.

Professor Snape started at the intrusion to his train of thought. He looked up at her and frowned. "Why didn't you knock?" He asked rather angrily.

Hermione had been having a rough day and she wanted to snap back at him that she did knock, but she thought better of it. He was obviously edgy because of something else. "I did, Sir, twice actually." She said in the most neutral tone she could muster, but by Snape's reaction to her words it obviously came out a little strained.

The professor turned his back on her and then sat at his desk, motioning for her to seat herself. Once she was seated Professor Snape said. "I'm sorry. I've been having one of those days you only read about."

Hermione was stunned. She had never even heard of Professor Snape apologizing to anyone and she didn't expect it. "It's alright, I've been having a long day too." She stuttered out, turning a brilliant shade of crimson. Needing a change of subject she said, "And about the lesson…?"

"Oh right I had forgotten about that. I'm going to assume you ran to the library at some point today and took out some books on occlumency. But you should know that they would only help in theory not in the actual doing of it.

Hermione smiled a little bit. "I figured as much, but it can't hurt to have a book or two on the subject." Hermione said.

Harry walked slowly to Professor Dumbledore's office. The lamps making long shadows in the corridors. Harry could feel the fire in the lamps as if he had his face inches from each one. The awakening of his elemental magic sharpened his senses. In the same way he could sense the fire, he could sense the very air around him. With training Harry assumed he would be able to manipulate the air and make it thicker, denser like a wall. When a breeze ruffled his hair he could sense the wind, feel it like he could feel the fire. The feeling was like how you could sense that your leg is attached without having to look to check. It was like the fire and air were an extremity of his soul and because of that he could feel it like they were part of him. These sensations were giving him goosebumps.

The stone gargoyle that had been standing silently for the past two minutes finally said something, startling Harry out of his thoughts. "Well are you going up or are you going to let me stay open all bloody night?"

"Sorry…" Harry muttered and then climbed the spiral staircase to Dumbledore's office.

Before he could knock on the doors to the office they swung open. Professor Dumbledore was seated at his desk looking over a large book. Harry walked in and Dumbledore closed the book and stood up behind his desk. "Ah, Harry. I think we shall go to the grounds for your training. The elements will be stronger outdoors. Why don't you help yourself to some candies and we'll make our way outside." The professor said.

Harry politely declined the candy and then they left the office together. "Um professor, do think the rest of the school will be able to see my training if we do it in the grounds?" Harry asked. He wasn't all that sure he wanted the rest of the wizarding world to know about this particular talent.

"If you do not want them to see it then they won't Harry. I will help you with that first if you wish." Dumbledore said, giving Harry a sidelong glance.

"I don't wish for everyone to know of this yet, maybe in time, but not yet." Harry said. "Will you be casting some kind of spell so others cannot see the training?" he asked.

Dumbledore chuckled softly. "No Harry. I will explain to you how to create a simple shield with the elements to divert the eyes of those who look toward it."

"Oh." Was all Harry said. He seemed to remember vaguely something at the beginning of his book that described that very thing. Godric wrote his frustration at Marie for having so much trouble with something that simple. He said it didn't bode well for the training ahead. "So do you think I'll be able to do it on the first try? Or will it take some practice?" He asked.

"It's hard to say either way. It depends on you Harry. I believe it is supposed to be a simpler matter compared to other things for you to learn. This shield will be unique to you, just as Godric's was unique to him. And Marie's was unique to her." Dumbledore said.

They walked in relative silence the remainder of the way. They walked past the whomping willow, and Hagrid's hut, and the greenhouses, until they were at the very edge of the grounds. The lake was to their left and the forbidden forest to their right. Dumbledore came to a stop in front of a towering elm tree; he seemed to be studying the bark in avid detail.

Harry stood to his right, feeling slightly awkward. "So Professor…," Harry began.

Dumbledore slowly turned from his inspection of the bark and regarded Harry with a look that said he was listening. "Did my father have this ability?"

"No Harry he did not." He looked back toward the tree. "My family was starting to believe that none would be born from Godric's line with the ability. That it was a fluke and we wouldn't be called upon to train another. It is my belief, however, that the ability is dormant in all his descendants and must be awakened somehow." Dumbledore walked toward a stump and seated himself upon it. "I think I'll sit, these old bones aren't what they used to be." He said with a twinkle in his eye.

Harry relaxed with a smile. "Well why don't you explain how this shield is to be summoned." He asked. He seated himself on the grass, cross-legged across from the headmaster.

"If I'm right, then you have come to an awakening of the elements in the world around you," Dumbledore paused. Harry nodded and then Dumbledore continued. "Your ability will allow you to bend the elements to your will. This ability relies on imagination to be used. Without imagination you will be limited to the things you are told or shown are possible. This ability is very different than the magic you have been taught. You have been taught that in order to get effective results you have to follow a strict guideline and meet all the requirements. This ability is more like an art form, a means of expression and is only limited by your imagination. Do you understand?"

"So you're saying it won't be anything like adding a certain ingredient to a potion at a certain time and then stirring exactly so many times." Harry said with a puzzled frown. "And not like memorizing wand movements and incantations." He looked up at Dumbledore's face, and he was smiling.

"Exactly Harry, couldn't have said it better. Of course if it will help you, you can add your own incantations. But they won't be necessary." He was sitting on the edge of his stump now. "Anything is possible, Harry. You can do anything with the elements if you put your mind, your imagination, whole-heartedly into the task." The headmaster sat back with a sobering look, seeing Harry's smile. "But with great power, Harry…" He began.

"…Comes great responsibility." Harry finished. Their eyes met and Harry saw a heavy burden reflected in the headmaster's eyes. Harry realized what the headmaster must have been thinking. He could possibly be training the next dark lord if Harry so chose, the most powerful dark lord to ever walk the earth. Harry visibly shivered. He was nothing like Voldemort. "Just because I've been going through some difficult times, professor doesn't mean I'm going to be the next dark lord." Harry said. He hoped that would suffice in assuaging the headmaster's fears.

"Harry, you know I didn't say that." Professor Dumbledore said gingerly. "Harry you should know that I, and Remus, and Severus, and your friends are here for you if you feel the need to talk about anything that has happened and any fears you may have for the future."

Harry didn't doubt the headmaster's words, but he also knew that if he did talk to any one of the people he listed his words would be repeated to the headmaster. Perhaps with the exception of Severus, but he wasn't totally sure yet. Harry nodded in understanding.

The headmaster's leant back slightly and rubbed his hands together. "Well, let's see about learning this shield now. From my readings I have uncovered some facts about this shield. Godric made his with air at first and as he progressed he became more creative with his shields, mixing the different elements like air and water. Marie favored fire and earth shields. I believe you can make a shield out of any element that is present in your vicinity. The problem with that is not all the elements are invisible to the eye. The fire element will most definitely be visible to the school." Professor Dumbledore said thoughtfully, "Perhaps the air element would be the best for this."

Harry thought for a moment and then an idea came to him. "If what you say is true about the imagination thing than I should be able to make any element invisible for the shield. Right?" he asked.

Professor Dumbledore looked up and smiled, "Why yes Harry I do believe you are on to something. What elements do you feel the strongest right now?"

Harry sat still for a moment, and closed his eyes. Finally he looked up with a wide grin. "Water, earth, air, and something else that I believe to be the shadow element. Yes it is the shadow element because during the day when the sun is highest I feel the light element strongly and it has warmth to it. This has a coldness to it, like when you sit in a shadow it is colder than in the light." Harry said all this as if he were realizing the truth of it as he spoke it.

"I think the air or the shadow elements will be perfect for a shield at night time when outdoors. And one of air and light during the day." Harry said.

Professor Dumbledore nodded in approval. "Ok Harry, I'm going to talk you through this once and only once so pay attention and learn from it." He said seriously.

Harry sat up straighter and focused all his attention on the headmaster.

"Close your eyes Harry and listen to my voice. Exclude all thoughts and senses except the sound of my voice." The professor said.

Harry obeyed and waited for his next instructions.

"I need you to bring up a mental image of one of the elements you mentioned. I want this image to be so vivid you can feel it in the core of your being." Harry imagined the air element first. He used every detail he could think of that described air. The fluidity of its motion, and it's potential for violence. He could feel a glow in the pit of his stomach, and at the center he could feel the air swirling about as if trapped in a small orb and looking for a way out. The feeling almost made his stomach turn but he pushed it down.

"Now if you wish to add another element then repeat what you just did with the other element." Harry visualized the shadow element. Nighttime and shadows that played tricks on you came to mind. This time the glow was colder and darker, and the center looked like endless darkness to the mind's eye. He held the image of the two glowing orbs side by side.

"Now merge the elements into one Harry. Don't be afraid, don't hesitate and it will go together." Harry wasn't afraid. He brought the images together until they were joined seamlessly. He could feel a slight pressure from each, as if they did not want to join, but he paid it no mind and then they were one. In his mind's eye the two orbs were now one orb. It had stayed the same depthless black as the shadow element but the center churned constantly like the air element. The glow was magnificent to behold, he could feel tears coursing down his cheeks from the effort of the union.

"Now Harry visualize the orb growing larger and larger still, until it encases the area you want shielded from sight." Harry did so. The orb grew larger with purpose until it was as large as he thought necessary. "Now visualize it becoming translucent, so you can see through the edges to the other side from the inside only." Harry smiled a little having a flashback to sitting in the Dursley's living room watching a television program about cops. He envisioned the edges of his orb to be like the mirror/windows in the interrogation rooms. "This is the harder part Harry, I need you to infuse the shield with the purpose of keeping others away." Harry imagined being outside the shield and he used his control over the shield to make the shield avert the eyes of those looking at it. From the outside he couldn't even look at it. He remembered the wards around the stadium at the quidditch world cup and decided to ad to the shields defenses. He added that those who looked at it would not only avert their eyes the will feel an overwhelming need to be elsewhere. Satisfied he re-entered the shield.

"Harry you did it." Professor Dumbledore said happily, "You can open your eyes now." Harry did and looked into the headmaster's beaming face. Harry smiled back and looked around, he could sense the edges of his shield but he could not see it, it was exactly as his imagination had built it. "Professor maybe we should test it. You should leave the shields and then I will let you back in and you can tell me what you see, or better yet, what you feel." The headmaster agreed and they walked to the edge of the shield, Harry stopped but the headmaster continued. Harry could see the headmaster standing on the other side of the shield but he could tell that the headmaster could not see him. The headmaster seemed to look confused for a second, and then abruptly turned back toward the castle and set off at a brisk walk. Harry stepped halfway through the shield, unsure if he should leave it entirely, and called to the professor. He didn't seem to hear him, so Harry had to get creative.

With some quick thinking he came to a solution. He wasn't sure it would work but he had to try. Harry called on the air and he used the wind to carry his words to the headmaster. This time he heard him to Harry's relief. Harry made a mental note to remember that trick in case he needed it again.

"Ah Harry, your shield is excellent. I believe your training will go well." The headmaster said when he was close enough for Harry to hear him. "Harry I think I was out of hearing range when I heard you call to me though." He said confusedly.

"Harry smiled. "Yes you were, but with some quick thinking I used the air element to carry my words to you on the wind. It's quite the trick isn't it?" Harry said with pride in his voice. "So tell me what it's like on the other side of the shield."

The headmaster waited until he was again seated on the stump inside the shield before he started to talk. "For a split second I could see the shield. It was like looking into a well with no visible bottom. And then I felt this need to avert my eyes. So I did and then I remembered I had some paperwork in my office that still needed to be tended to so I turned around and left. The shield is strong, Harry. We should try out some different combinations to see if they are all as effective."

Harry nodded enthusiastically. "So you know that page in the book that shows Marie on that star with the elements on the points?" Harry asked. The headmaster nodded. "Well what exactly is that for and when in my training will I do it?"

Professor Dumbledore thought for a second and then replied. "Sooner than Marie did it but still at least a few sessions away. You need to familiarize your self with all the elements first. When you are reasonably comfortable in your control of the elements we will perform that ceremony. The ceremony is a merging of the elements with your soul, but if you cannot control the elements properly than it can be potentially fatal. I believe Marie almost died. I will know when you are ready."

"Will using the elements always tire me out this much?" Harry asked. He felt drained from his efforts with the shield.

"No, with practice and training you will build up endurance. Like if you are a jogger and you haven't jogged in a month and then you find you can't jog nearly as far as you could a month ago. But with time you build up your endurance again and maybe you can run further now." Professor Dumbledore said. "I think we will call this session over for the night and we will continue in two days. How about we train every second day and you can have your occlumency lessons on the days we don't train."

"That sounds exhausting," Harry replied, "But it sounds good to me." Harry dismissed his shield and they set off for the castle. Harry was longing for his warm bed.

Hermione was breathing in short gasps; sweat was running down her face and neck. She hadn't expecting occlumency to be this exhausting. She felt as if she had run a marathon. She looked at Professor Snape and he wasn't even breaking a sweat. She was proud to admit that so far he hadn't been able to stay in her mind long enough to make sense of her thoughts and memories, but she knew she needed to try harder because the goal was to prevent him from entering her mind. Not just getting him out once he is in.

"Legilemens." Professor Snape said. Hermione hadn't been expecting it and her guard was down. She could feel him in her mind, the images they could both see clearly. She was too exhausted to push him out this time and the images flooded forth with abandon. She could see her first teeth cleaning appointment and her mother holding the instrument with the cleaning paste on it. She could feel the terror she felt as if she were reliving the past, and in a way she was.

The memory changed suddenly and she was playing outside in her back yard in the sand box making a sand castle. Then it changed again, she was on the school bus on her way to a new school on the first day, and she felt nervous like she did on that day. Again the memories changed and she was sitting in front of the school in the great hall with the sorting hat on her head. And then she was in the devil's snare with Ron and Harry.

The memory changed again and this time she was walking down the dungeon corridors, on her way back from a detention with Professor Snape. This memory was a painful one and she could feel the tears coursing down her cheeks. In the memory she could see Marcus Flint coming up behind her and tapping her on the shoulder. The memory her turned around and Marcus asked her to help him with his homework, he promised it would only take a second. The memory Hermione followed Marcus into an empty classroom.

Hermione didn't want Professor Snape to see this memory and she didn't want to see that particular memory again. She tried in vain to push him out of her mind. The edges of the vision went fuzzy. But she couldn't get him out. "Please stop Professor," She cried out.

"You must push me out Hermione. Focus." Snape said. The memory Hermione looked quizzically around the empty classroom and saw no homework. Marcus pushed the memory Hermione up against a desk. The memory Hermione cried out. Marcus clamped a hand over her mouth. Marcus started to trail kisses down the shaking Hermione. Hermione bit Marcus' hand and drew blood. Marcus slapped her hard.

Hermione tried again to push the Professor out but she could not. She was starting to get angry and desperate. She tried again and with a mighty mental heave she slammed the door to her mind.

She was on her knees in the dungeon office, the cold stone biting into her knees. The tears were coursing freely now. She stood up and gave Professor Snape a withering glare and then stormed out. She slammed the office door behind her.

Professor Snape stared at the office door without seeing it. He was now thinking that he should have stopped, but if he did would she have found the strength to push him out. He decided that he did the right thing because he knew the dark lord would not stop because she asked him too. He knew she would see reason, hopefully by the next lesson. The memory was obviously a painful one and he was sure he knew what had happened next. Marcus Flint was lucky he had already graduated. Severus' blood was boiling just thinking about the memory.