Hey All! Sorry for not getting a new ch. up for ages ... (dodges rotten tomatoes)

Previously:

[Snape's Perspective]

"Legilimens," he hissed, focusing on slipping smoothly into the boy's mind. What he found there would haunt him for the rest of his days. There was no order, just chaos; five different perspectives, thoughts and ideas, all conflicting and running in circles. It could be likened to a great stampede. He pulled out quickly, already beginning to feel the effects of the migraine that was no doubt forming in his temples.

"You have, undoubtedly, the most unorganised and chaotic mind I have ever seen."

He sighed, this was going to be a long day.

"Tom, have you got a private room we can use?"

"Sure, Mister Snape, down the corridor, third door on the left."

"Follow me," he ordered sharply at the boy sitting before him, and walked off without a backward glance. Alexei just shrugged and followed behind him.

"Sit," Snape barked once they were alone, gesturing sharply towards one of the chairs. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed again, rolling his eyes at the ceiling. "What do you know of Occlumency?" he asked.

"Umm, not much," Alexei said. "Actually, nothing at all."

"Very well. Then I shall endeavour to teach you the basics today. We shall have to postpone our shopping trip to a later date. Is that acceptable?" The last was said in a way which made it clear it would be acceptable or else.

"Sure…" Alexei replied, starting to get a bit creeped out.

"Good, now do you know how to meditate?"

[AN: Okay, I'm not going to write about the lesson, partly because I don't know how to write it and well, that's pretty much it. I might, might at some point write a oneshot on what happens in the lesson. No promises. Cheers, on with the story! ]

Snape entered Alexei's mind once again, and like the many times before, he was directed to a dank chamber with melting walls; the form Alexei's mind had taken. Satisfied that he had done all he could, he pulled smoothly back out. It was always easier to hold conversations in the real world.

"I am going to enquire about getting us rooms for the night. We shall resume our shopping trip tomorrow," Snape said, slipping back into his outer robes and buttoning up the long row of fastenings running up the front. "Wait here," he said curtly before disappearing into the corridor.

Some minutes later, the barman, Tom poked his head around the door. "Come along, Mr Snape's requested rooms for you both on the second floor."

Alexei followed silently, rather overwhelmed. He was barely listening to Tom's chatter about various things on the way to the rooms. When he broke out of his reverie, he was standing outside a wooden door emblazoned with the number 19. "Ah, thank you," he murmured lowly, before stepping over the threshold and into his current room. Quickly settling in a meditative pose, he sunk deep into his mind.

[Mindscape]

When he arrived in the 'receiving room', as he'd dubbed it, he hurried to a nondescript warped stone on the far wall, pressing it in as far as it would go. The room faded into a much more pleasant one, not nearly as dank as before. Conjuring up a long couch, he settled against one arm and clicked his fingers twice.

"You know, we're not servants you can just summon with a click of your fingers." The acerbic comment was typical of Tom.

"Tom!" The relief on Alexei's face was palpable. "Are the others here yet?"

"We're right here, Lex," Palau said, smiling softly as he ruffled Alexei's hair. Dean didn't say anything, opting instead to curl up into Alexei's side and yawn. Harry walked out of a shadowy doorway, hair wet and dripping down his chest.

He took one look at Alexei and said, "Alright, what's wrong?". When he didn't receive an instant answer, he looked at his personality expectantly.

"You know how we're different personalities, but all Harry? Well, the Wizarding world doesn't understand the concept of having multiple personalities in one person. They think it's just possession," Alexei said quietly, clutching Dean to his side. "I saw it in the Professor's mind when he was teaching me."

"Don't worry Lex, we won't let anything happen, to any of us," Palau said squeezing his shoulder tightly as a manner of reassurance.

"Yeah, we'll be alright!" Harry said, coming over to join the group huddle.

"Come on Tom! I wanna cuddle!" A sleepy Dean yelled, looking up from his makeshift pillow.

"Alright, alright," Tom muttered, in mock anger, although he was all too happy to be a part of the resonating warmth and love.

71N3 13R3AK

[The Next Day]

Knock, knock, knock!

"Are you up yet, Mr Potter?" Snape's voice came through the door, lightly impatient with a touch of irritation

"Yes, Professor."

… bang, clang… thump… bump.

A breathless Dean came hurtling through the door, panting, before skidding to a stop mere inches in front of Professor Snape. "Sorry about that, Professor, Harry always tells me I shouldn't be such a klutz. I'm Dean, pleased to meet you!" he rushed out without pause.

"A pleasure." he replied dryly. The next one, wonderful! How am I going to survive five different Harry Potters?"Come on, we have tarried far too long already." Spinning sharply on his heel, Snape made his way towards the entrance to Diagon Alley without so much as a backwards glance.

Dean hurried along behind, giving him a lost puppy look when they stopped in front of the nondescript brick wall. "Mr Snape, I thought we were going to Diagon Alley? Why are we in front of a wall?"

"Because, Mr Potter, this is entrance to Diagon Alley. Watch!" he said, tapping the brick lightly with his wand. The wall started to move, bricks sliding out of the way until they dematerialized, revealing a cobbled pathway.

"Wow!" Dean gasped, eyes wide. "How did you do that!?"

"The wall is merely an illusion, and the bricks are the passcode." Snape replied, glancing sharply at his charge. "Come on, I have better things to do than watch you all day. We will start at Madam Malkins."

"Coming!"

To say the rest of the day was hectic was an understatement of epic proportions. Dean acted like a young puppy, bouncing all over the place, overflowing with enthusiasm. Severus Snape went home with a monstrous headache and firm desire to not have Harry Potter (in any of his forms) anywhere near his house!

Next ch: Going to Hogwarts and the Sorting!

But no guarantees about when I'm getting this up ...

~ Yin

This is a beta'd version, thanks to my awesome beta.