Second Year: Second Lesson

by **Gaspard Dupont** Tue Feb 28, 2012 8:52 am

Gaspard had filled the room of desks and chairs and a desk for himself as well, the corners were still dark. The walls were filled with poster of known Occlumens: Harry Potter, Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy, Voldemort, Bellatrix Lestrange and Bartemius Crouch Jr.

Now it looked like a real classroom.

He was sitting in his chair, reading over the Daily Prophet, waiting for his students to enter.

by **Haley Vilde Smith** Tue Feb 28, 2012 8:59 am

Haley hadn't been in the previous class, but she knew she could do this. If there was one thing her parents had spent loads of time on her with, it was occlumency. She wasn't completely blocked, but she could clear her mind pretty well.

"Hello professor Dupont," she said with a smile and sat down.

She looked at the different posters, and her eyes lingered at Severus Snape. Now that was a brave person.

by **Gaspard Dupont** Tue Feb 28, 2012 10:19 am

Looking up from an article of the progress of the war, he smiled and nodded at his student, "Hello Miss. VildeSmith, I expect some of your classmates have already told you about the essay you owe me."

by **Haley Vilde Smith** Tue Feb 28, 2012 10:25 am

"Just Smith, please, Professor," Haley said with a smile. Then she frowned. Homework?

"Oh, of course! The 5,000 word essay on risks, right?" she asked him.

She plucked up her bag and looked into it, finding the parchment. She rose and walked over to him.

"I'm sorry for not stopping by with it sooner," she said, "I completely forgot. As you can probably see."

Haley looked at the parchment. It was a bit messed up. She opened it and made sure it was still readable.

"Here," she said and gave it to the professor.

by **Gaspard Dupont** Tue Feb 28, 2012 10:40 am

"Miss. Smith it is." He nodded.

Gaspard took hold of the essay and with his wand he made it looked all new. Reading it over he nodded, "Very well, Miss. Smith. You do know that this doesn't count as homework points or extra credit..." His eyes were still on the essay, and when he was done, he placed it inside the desk drawer that belonged to the second years.

by **Haley Vilde Smith** Tue Feb 28, 2012 10:44 am

"Yes, I know," Haley said, "It's just that if it was one thing my parents wanted me to learn, then it was Occlumency. Nothing was higher than that to them."

She then realized she had just talked about her parents so openly. She had never meant to do that. And it hurt her that she had just talked about them in past-tense as well. She clenched her teeth as she went to sit back down.

by **Gaspard Dupont** Tue Feb 28, 2012 10:55 am

Gaspard could feel her emotions of hurt coming his way and he nodded in understanding, "Then I will teach you all I know, Miss. Smith. Of that you don't have to worry. Could you tell me of what you know?"

by **Haley Vilde Smith** Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:07 am

Haley nodded. "I know that it takes a lot of focus. I mean, it's not quite like mediation, because when you meditate, you're not under pressure, and therefore thoughts flow easier away from you. But when you are under pressure you have to force your thoughts away, and it becomes much harder due to the strain. But the whole deal is that you're supposed to clear your mind alltogether," she said, hoping she wasn't too far off.

by **Gaspard Dupont** Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:21 am

"Quite right, Miss, Smith. In order to prevent a Legilimens from perceiving one's emotions and thoughts, you need to be empty of emotions, you have to clear your mind of thoughts-making it blank and empty." He said while standing up from his chair and walking around the room. "This is the most simplest way."

Turning around to look at her, he asked, "Did you parents ever taught you? I understand if you won't answer, Miss. Smith, but I need to know where you stand as an Occlumens, so I can teach you and for you to learn faster."

by **Haley Vilde Smith** Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:24 am

Haley smiled softly and looked down at her hands. "It's not healthy for me not to talk about them. Besides, I feel guilty if I don't. They taught me some. I'm not very good at it, but I can hold my stand for about five seconds without anyone breaking in. Then it becomes harder and harder to block my thoughts. But I'm good at clearing my head in the beginning," she explained, looking back up at the professor.

by **Gaspard Dupont** Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:36 am

Gaspard nodded, listening to his student. "That's alright, Miss. Smith. Some people can't even block for a second. How about we start, it seems the rest of your classmates are going to be late." With that he pointed his wand at the opened door, making a white poster appear with the words: "Knock before entering."

"Seeing that you weren't her last time, I had set up the room differently from the way it is now, to make the few students who came to not be distracted. I decided to make it even more difficult was to put the room as a real classroom, objects make people distracted, and I hope, Miss. Smith will make you try harder."

He walked in front of the class, "Please stand. And try to clear your mind, as much long as you can."

by **Haley Vilde Smith** Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:40 am

Haley nodded and closed her eyes for a second. Maybe this would be harder, due to the summers events. Maybe she couldn't block. But maybe the death of her parents would also be a motivator.

She continued to expel thoughts from her mind and when she was clear, when everything in her head had gone dark, she opened her eyes, still only seeing darkness and gave a small nod to professor Dupont, telling she was ready.

by **Gaspard Dupont** Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:45 am

His face turned into a stony gaze and with his wand, he pointed at Miss. Smith, "Legilimens!"

At first it was dark, he could't see anything, five seconds passed and then ten seconds passed, then twenty and finally he saw a glimpse of a memory, of a man and a woman, guessing they were Miss. Smith, he tried to break her concentration. It was as if his mind had hands and he was touching the memory, trying to open it, dissect it.

by **Haley Vilde Smith** Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:53 am

Haley clenched her teeth, growling. The pressure was unbelievable. She realized that her parents had gone easy on her. No! She wouldn't think of them. She clenched her teeth further, focusing on darkness, on nothingness.

But it felt like fingers were trying to tear apart her skull. She managed to keep a bit more, but then it broke. Everything broke. Her memories flushed back to her. Her first broom, given to her by her smiling parents. The letter to Hogwarts. Meeting new friends. The prom and the battle, the inferi. Summer break. Succeeding in animagic and turning into an eagle. Trying to control the weather. The letter. The coldhearted letter from the Ministry telling her parents death on mission in Germany. The gravestone. Sally Swandeth, the murderer. She fought her. Haley got her neck cut. She got to Medic Henley, saying it was just an accident. Sally Swandeth haunting her dreams. Then her friends. Her good friends helping her through this. Keiba, Parker.

Haley felt herself fall to the floor, breathing heavily, tears running down her cheeks.

by **Gaspard Dupont** Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:06 pm

Gaspard saw it all, the happy and sad painful memories she held deeply in her mind and heart.

He stopped and walked quickly to Miss. Smith, kneeling down he helped her stand, with a swish of his wand a handkerchief appeared, giving it to her, he helped her sit, "I apologize Miss. Smith, but I hope you understand that I need to be hard on you and everybody else. People out there won't be nice on trying to look inside you, they will be harsh, more than me."

Gaspard handed her a glass of water, "Do you need to go to the Hospital Wing? Or would you like to continue?"

by **Haley Vilde Smith** Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:10 pm

Haley took the handkerchief with a smile and wiped away her tears. She then shook her head.

"No, I understand. I understand perfectly," she said calmly, "And I wish to continue. What doesn't kill me simply makes me stronger right?"

She gave him a big grin and then shook her head and hands before rising again.

"Okay, at least one more time. If I'm ever gonna be anything like Severus Snape, I had better start working," she said calmly, clearing her head and giving another nod to professor Dupont.

by **Gaspard Dupont** Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:23 pm

He nodded, "Exactly, Miss. Smith."

Gaspard smiled at his student, "Severus Snape's method of teaching was to be empty and blank. For some it works fo others it doesn't. Seeing what happened to your parents, I believe you have a stronger weapon than Severus Snape, Miss. Smith. You can use your pain for what you felt or even the love that you feel for them now, to block an enemy. For every person there's a different method of blocking."

His wand was out, "Try to use that love, Miss. Smith. Try to block me, empty yourself of thoughts, by using the love that you have for your parents. Legilimens!"

by **Haley Vilde Smith** Tue Feb 28, 2012 5:10 pm

The pressure was back. Haley clenched and unclenched her teeth fighting it. She didn't know if she could hold onto it as long as she did last time, but something she knew but couldn't remember was keeping her from letting go.

She felt warm and safe despite the fact that what felt like fingers was trying to pry into her most private memories. She knew this feeling, but she didn't remember it. She wouldn't remember it. Not now.

She fought back, the prying not being so horrible anymore when she felt that feeling. She felt as if she could do anything right about now. Her jaw was starting to hurt, so she unclenched her teeth, but managed to keep on fighting. She didn't know how much time had passed, whether it be seconds or days.

Then the prying fingers won. The memories flooded back, and Haley slid back to the floor. But this time with a feeling of being held in the arms of both her parents keeping her safe.

by **Keiba Namid** Tue Feb 28, 2012 10:16 pm

Keiba raced up to the Occlumency classroom, and when she reached the door she sighed. "Dammit!" she muttered. Running a hand threw her hair, she hoped Professor Dupont wouldn't be too harsh on her. Not meaning to make him feel as if she'd not practised (which she certainly had), Keiba emptied her head of as much strong emotions as possible before raising her hand to knock.

She rapped three times on the old wooden door and waited for a reply. Keiba had thought class wouldn't have started so early today and had lagged a bit more than she should have. She regretted that.

by **Gaspard Dupont** Wed Feb 29, 2012 7:20 am

Gaspard was using all his strength to open his student mind, but she was blocking him, she was using her emotions that she had for her parents.

Three minutes passed and still nothing, until finally she gave up and he saw.

She was on the floor again, and quickly helped her stand. He heard a knock and walking slowly to a nearby chair, helped her sit, "Excellent work, Miss. Smith. Ten points for Hufflepuff."

He then made his way to the door and opened it, happy that at least some student read before entering, he nodded when he saw Miss. Namid, "Please come in, Miss. Namid. Take a seat please. I hope you have practiced..."

Second Year: Second Lesson 7679217

by **Haley Vilde Smith** Wed Feb 29, 2012 7:23 am

Haley breathed heavily, but smiled at the points given to her house. She then looked up as Keiba walked into the room. She gave a small wave and smiled slightly, catching her breath.

by **Victoria Rossmund** Wed Feb 29, 2012 3:41 pm

Victoria felt like she had let the professor down. First she missed the previous lesson, and now she was running late. She had gotten used to classes having so many students that the wait time was longer.

Knocking on the door she shifted her weight nervously. She had been trying to clear her emotions, but it felt like she had too many. One thing she had always loved about the outdoors was that she didn't have to worry about confining herself to other people's expectations. Ever since her dad had given her that safe haven, she had embraced her emotions, if only in private.

by **Keiba Namid** Wed Feb 29, 2012 7:55 pm

Keiba smiled and waved back at Haley. She couldn't help but think lightly how relieved she was that the Professor wasn't super duper ultra mad at her.

"I sure have practiced," she said, glad that she had. Keiba took a seat next to Haley and just as she did there was another knock at the door.

by **Gaspard Dupont** Thu Mar 01, 2012 9:48 am

"Excellent, Miss. Namid." He said when he hear another knock at the door. Going forth and opening it he smiled at seeing another student, "Goody day Miss. Rossmund, I'm happy that you decided to join us today, please come in and take a seat."

Walking to his desk he sat himself and took out a parchment. "I'm glad that the class is here. I want to practice with you all on clearing your thoughts." Standing up he walked to the front of his desk, leaning on it, "We're going to do some exercises, I want you all to stand up, please."

He now stood straight, "Stand up straight, breath deeply in, hold it for a second and breath out, be calm first, do this for a couple of time and then try to think nothing. It's hard to explain, but when you put yourself to it, it's quite easy. Let's begin!"

by **Haley Vilde Smith** Thu Mar 01, 2012 9:52 am

Haley rose along with the rest and closed her eyes. She started breathing calmly and deeply, letting her thoughts wash away when she breathed out. She felt her head clearing more and more and she felt as if she was in utter peace. She couldn't help a small smile spreading on her lips. She knew that she was coming to understand that Occlumency was going straight to the top of favorite lessons.