Chapter 26: Magical Misconceptions 

"You have told me that your visions are getting worse," Snape said as Lucy sat nervously in the potions classroom in front of many potion vials the next day. It was the exact same place as Harry had sat when he had occulmency lessons. "Perhaps you should endure the same lessons as Mr Potter had."

"Are they bad?" Lucy asked.

"If you learn to prevent me from looking through your memories, it will be easy." Snape turned around slowly from where he was standing in front of the table. "And if I touch on some personal memories, maybe it will make it easier."

Lucy gulped and hoped so desperately that her father wouldn't find the memories of her and Fred like he had done to Harry with Cho. She suddenly had the incentive to try her best to shield those memories away from him.

"Are you sure about this?" Lucy wondered as he stood in front of her holding his wand.

"Certainly," he nodded. "You'll be able to see the visions you want to see from Zuc and the one's you don't wish to see you can allow him to make you see."

"I suppose seeing Anastasia's death wasn't the best thing..."

"No, I'm sure it certainly wasn't...now, are you ready?" 

"I suppose?" Lucy seemed unsure of herself, she blinked.

"To make this work effectively and to make sure that I don't see any memories you have to make your mind blank. Don't think of anything, it can be quite tricky but if you make your mind blank I won't see anything. But, if you fail to do so, I will be able to see every memory that you put on display. Is that clear?" 

"It's clear." 

"Good, we shall begin." Snape aimed his wand at her then, it began. "Legilimens!"

Suddenly, a searing pain shot through her mind and all her memories were on display for Snape to see. It started out quite simply with the fight from earlier where she had beaten her own father at sword fighting, it then progressed to things like from when she was younger where James Potter's half-brother had been so terrible to her. 

"No! Please! Stop it!" Lucy pleaded through gritted teeth. 

"Concentrate!" Snape barked. "Make your mind blank!" 

Lucy tried so desperately to erase the memories from Snape's notice, she managed to get rid of every one but the one that Snape had singled out. No matter how hard she tried, it couldn't escape her notice. 

"Please!" Lucy almost begged and suddenly, she was released from the pain. She opened her eyes and found Snape standing there, a little worried. 

"You allowed me to see all your memories..." Snape shook his head. "You tried but — " 

"Dad, I'm sorry. It's just..." Lucy turned away from him and bit her lip. "I'm sorry..."

"It's fine," Snape shook his head. "Why didn't your mother ever tell me about you?" 

"Maybe she didn't want to, maybe Harry's father told her not to." 

"Potter..." Snape hissed, Lucy could see him grinding his teeth in aggravation. "Always his fault."

"What's done it, you can't change anything." Lucy shrugged and Snape suddenly thought about the time turners in the room of Requirement. "Don't try going back in time either, it will complicate matters more. Besides, if you go and save the past version of me...what will the present version of me do? I'll be all alone...and if you go and save the past me it could affect the future me. Besides, terrible things happen to wizards who mess with time. Imagine if you killed off your past self accidentally?" 

"Yes, but what you said beforehad was confusing." 

"Very," Lucy agreed and then sat up straight in the chair. "Shall we continue?" 

"Are you sure?" 

"I'm sure." 

"Keep your mind blank and it'll work. If you fail to do so, it won't work." 

"OK, I've got it. Lets just get this over with..."

"Legilimens!" Snape whispered as he aimed his wand at Lucy, this time he struggled to grasp memories. Lucy was keeping her mind as blank as possible, not allowing him to see anything. He saw some of her memories but they were very faint.

Suddenly he stopped and Lucy stared at him. "Did I do anything wrong?" 

"No, not at all..." Snape shook his head but Lucy narrowed her eyes. 

"What did you see?" 

"The conversation you had with your Ancient runes teacher, it was an interesting one at that."

"I suppose, I don't think I should continue the subject anymore..."

"I think you should, you might as well continue it as it won't be much longer before the O.W.L.S come up." 

"Oh no!" Lucy stood abruptly. "I haven't done any studying and they're not far off these exams!" 

"Calm down," Snape almost smiled. "You've got plenty of time and I'll help you if you get stuck with anything."

"Thank you..."

Suddenly there was a knock at the door and then it swung open, Harry stood there awkwardly wearing a very upset face. He hated occulmency lessons. 

"I'm here," Harry groaned. 

"Mr Potter, you really are ungrateful," Snape hissed. "You'll be off now, won't you, Lucy?"

"I guess so, I'll go study in the Transfiguration courtyard." 

"Focus on defense against the dark arts and anything else you're weak on." Snape advised. 

Lucy walked over to one of the tables where she had left all her textbooks, she opened up her enchanted bag and then swept all the text books in there. 

"All my weak areas!" She smiled and then skipped off. 

*      *      *

"Make it a powerful memory!" Harry instructed as everyone stood in different places of the room as Harry, Shona and Lucy wandered around given tips and advice on how to produce a patronus. "The happiest you can remember! Allow it to fill you up — keep trying, Seamus!"

"It could be any memory!" Lucy added as she stood beside Fred and helped him hold his wand correctly. "Anything at all! It can be personal if you wish it to be, but it has to be happy enough for you to produce a patronus!" 

"How can Snape produce a patronus? He's never happy!" Shona snorted as Fred waved his wand and produced his patronus. 

"Expecto patronum!" Hermione called. 

"Keep trying, Hermione!" Harry called. 

"If you're miserable like Snape, you can't produce a patronus!" Shona said as Neville once again failed at making a patronus. "I still can't believe you can do a patronus, Lucy, I want proof!" 

"You've seen my patronus!" Lucy barked. 

"I don't believe you!" Shona called as everyone — as they were practicing — turned to look at Lucy.

"Alright fine," Lucy sighed and pulled out her wand. She thought of a lot of memories between her and Snape all at once. They distracted her and she smiled then raised her wand and yelled: "Expecto Patronum!"  

 A beautiful phoenix shot out of her wand and flew around the room, it looked ready to attack some dementors but there were none. Yet, it didn't seem to care as it swooped over people's heads and then landed loyally on her shoulder. But as soon as it touched down, it vanished. 

Lucy's face was horrified. 

"What is it?" Harry asked. 

"Shh!" Lucy demanded and the whole room was silent. The chandlier above their heads suddenly shook. Everyone backed out of the way in case it fell...apart from Lucy who walked forward. 

"Lucy!" Fred warned. She didn't hear him. 

Harry stepped forward and joined her, she held onto his arm worriedly as the whole room seemed to give short and sharp shakes. It was as though there was a faulty earthquake going on and if they didn't exit soon, the whole place would fall apart. 

To the side of them, the glass mirror cracked and Lucy watched as her face cracked into tiny little pieces then fell to the ground. It was as though watching all her achievements in the room of Requirement disappear in a second. 

There was a tiny crack in the wall behind where the glass had shattered. Lucy looked at Harry and he nodded, they both walked forward. Harry pushed her back slightly and stared at the hole in the wall curiously, it then became apparent what was going on...

"I'll make short work of this," the voice of Umbridge called from behind the wall. Lucy stepped forward and peered at the hole and saw Umbridge standing there with the Inquisitorial squad and Filch behind her. "Bombarda maxima!" 

Harry grabbed hold of Lucy and shoved her out of the way, he landed close by to her as the whole wall collapsed. Both Harry and Lucy coughed as debris sprayed around them — as well as dust — as Umbridge and her group made their way closer to the room. 

The Wizarding Army/Dumbledore's Army stared at their enemies as Draco was now visible, holding onto to Cho Chang. Everyone shook their heads at her, it was now apparent as to why Cho had been absent from today's lesson; she'd told Umbridge about what they were doing.

Harry stood up and helped Lucy up afterwards, she held onto his arm nervously and stared at Umbridge. She was now grinning happily at her achievement. 

"Get them." She barked suddenly after a tense moment. 

*      *      * 

Draco kept a firm hold on Lucy's robe as the rest of the Inquisitorial squad dragged the other members of the secret organisation into Dumbledore's office. Lucy and Harry were stationed in front of the whole group as if to symbolise that they were the one's who had caused this big mess. They were responsible for teaching students defensive spells in secret despite Umbridge's strict rules.

"I knew they were up to something!" Umbridge snapped as she, the minister and Kingsley Shackelbolt walked into Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore stood in front of his desk, his expression was un-readable. 

"Yes, Dolores I have told — " the Minister stopped mid-sentence as he looked up and paused in mid-step. He locked eyes with Lucy and stared at her. "Lydia." He mouthed. 

Lucy smiled weakly as Fudge's attention was ordered towards Dumbledore and Umbridge's conversation, he looked on nervously as Lucy hung her head in shame; Fudge trusted her. She had failed him.

"It appears that your students have been forming a secret organisation, Dumbledore." Umbridge snarled. "It is strictly against the educational decrees that the ministry has created!"

"I am well aware," Dumbledore nodded, almost in shame.

"So you were aware of this organisation which is defying my educational decrees and in a way the Ministry itself!"

"Well, doesn't it clearly state 'Dumbledore's Army'?"

"No!" Harry called out just as Snape entered the room. "No! I created the club it was my idea! It wasn't anyone else's fault apart from mine!"

"You're forgetting the second part of the club's name," Lucy whispered as she raised her head and everyone stared at her. "It's not just 'Dumbledore's army' it's also the 'Wizarding Army.' Not just fighting against Voldemort but Zuc too...I am as much responsible for this as you are, Harry." 

"Knew she was trouble!" Umbridge called out in triumph. "Here are the confessions! We have Mr. Potter owning up and now Miss Snape! All along she's been rebellious and not the nice sweet girl that everyone claims she is!" 

"Oh shut up!" Fred spat. "She's the one who's right and you're the one who's in the wrong!" 

The Dumbledore's and Wizarding Army members cheered and Lucy gave Fred a grateful smile which he returned quickly. Umbridge, however, was gobsmaked. She looked as though she wanted to hit Fred there and then. The Minister and Snape exchanged glances as Umbridge seemed to have steam errupting from her ears. 

"Dolores," the Minister spoke up before she could really lose it. It was as though he wanted to prevent her from throwing a tantrum. 

"Well, as it's confession time, I'll join in," Snape raised his hand in defeat. "I found the room where they have been practicing...I told them about it."

"A-ha!" Umbridge almost hopped up and down. "Another confession! Oh! Oh! Oh! That surely means the sack!" 

Lucy's mouth fell open and the Minister looked at Umbridge and then at Dumbledore. The whole room fell silent and Lucy wondered if Shona was having a silent party in her head. She swallowed and Snape looked at her. 

"Of course," Snape waved his wand and in the next moment he clutched his briefcase in his hand which was full of his belongings. "When does the next train back to London from Hogsmeade station leave?"

"No!" Lucy screamed and struggled against Draco's grip but he held her tighter so she couldn't break free. "Please! You can't give him the sack!" 

"I'm afraid we can, Miss Snape!" Umbridge smiled. "Your father is now the one in the wrong, therefore he is now unemployed."

"But how are we going to afford the house?" Lucy asked suddenly, if Snape was unemployed he would run out of money and they would have to sell the house. 

"Good luck with the homeless life again!" Draco howled with laughter and the whole Inquisitorial squad joined in. 

"Shut up, Malfoy!" Shona sneered as Crabbe tightened the grip on her arms. 

"We will be sending Dumbledore to Azkaban, also, for defying the Ministry." Fudge said simply as Harry gasped. 

"I have no intention of going to Azkaban..." Dumbledore replied in exactly the same tone and in the next moment Fawkes swooped down and after a large gust of wind and a sharp light he was gone. 

"Oh..." Kingsley said as he composed himself. "You may not like it Minister, but Dumbledore's got style." 

The Minister stared at him before turning to Snape. "Come now, Mr Snape, we must escort you down to Hogsmeade station." Fudge sighed and headed towards the exit to Dumbledore's office, Snape following miserably behind. 

Lucy finally released herself from Draco's grip and ran after Snape and the Minister, she ran down the stairs and grabbed hold of Snape's arm and prevented him from going any further. He turned to her shocked. 

"I'm not letting you go!" Lucy sobbed. 

"Lucy, go and get your possessions from my quarters and put them in your dormitory!" Snape protested, he hated seeing Lucy like this. It reminded him of when he had called Lily a 'mud-blood.' and had caused her to cry too...why was it he made everyone sad?

"It can wait," Fudge said. "I wish for Lydia to stay with us." 

Snape looked down at suddenly she seemed only eleven years old again, he took hold of her hand and didn't let go as they continued to walk through Hogwarts and down to Hogsmeade station. Lucy couldn't comprehend that when they reached Hogsmeade she'd be saying goodbye to Snape for a long time instead of him being there every day for her...the thought made her very depressed. 

"I know that you may be angered by the fact that I didn't bail you out, Mr Snape," Fudge cleared his throat and smoothed down his hair. "But I think it's really for the best." 

"So you think it's acceptable that he just gets fired because of Umbridge?" Lucy butted in, she couldn't stand any longer and wanted her out of Hogwarts. 

"Of course I don't think it's acceptable that he gets fired because of Dolores. What I mean to say is that it's really for the best because of Lord Zuc." 

"You really think he's real?" 

"Of course! Why wouldn't I?" Fudge smiled at her and patted her on the shoulder. "I believe he is real. Unlike the dark Lord who is definitely not back!" 

"But he is back." Lucy frowned. "Harry told me." 

"You can't have too many things in your head, my dear, worries make you look old and we can't have that, can we?" Fudge laughed. "Especially to a young girl like you! Now, don't you worry about Mr Potter, why don't you just focus on your own problems rather than his?" 

"Because Harry is my half-brother, I care about him." Lucy snapped, Snape pulled a face and tried not to pay attention. "Dad might not think so but he's family to me." 

"Well, I think Zuc is much more of a problem! He's definitely real and has made the portal to France! He's gone and killed your friend just because she knew you!"

"Thanks for reminding me," Lucy sighed. 

"I do aplogise for her death, that really isn't fair for you." 

Lucy turned away from him and allowed Snape to get a word in instead; she'd done enough of the talking for the moment. 

"I have to ask — now that I am unemployed — where on earth am I going to get money? I can't exactly go and find a new job easily." 

"I have it handled — " Fudge dipped his hand into his robe pocket and pulled out a bag that was literally overflowing with galleons. "This will keep you going for an awful long while, I have to make sure the gifted's needs are fulfilled." 

"And even though I have got the sack and even though I don't argue with it, I also must ask...say if Zuc makes a portal to get to England he'll target me first. I'll have no protection, what do I do?" 

"Don't worry, I have that handled too. If Zuc tries to get you you can apparate straight to the Ministry and find me, I'll make sure everything gets in order again." 

"So you'll just leave Zuc to wander around England and kill innocent people?" Lucy asked in shock. 

"Obviously not!" Fudge stuttered

"Don't lie to me!" Lucy spat. "You'd leave the Wizarding and muggle population to be killed by Zuc! You'd let Zuc get his own way and cower in the Ministry somewhere!"

"Lucy! Don't be so rude!" Snape hissed. 

"No, she's right. I can't just leave the muggles and wizards like that. I will have to discuss with some officials in the Ministry as to what plan we will act on and inform you when it is official." 

"I don't want innocents to die if Zuc really does come to England, not any more. Muggles aren't aware of him and it's not fair that they have to die because of us." 

"Agreed, Miss Snape." Fudge bowed. 

They arrived at Hogsmeade station, Snape stepped onto the train and stowed his briefcase onto the overhead racks and then hopped off back onto the platform. 

"I'll give you two a moment," Fudge said kindly and then wandered off to admire the train time table innocently. 

As soon as he was out of earshot, Lucy went into hysterics. She hugged Snape and buried herself in his chest. He rubbed her back as she cried. They stayed like this for what felt like a lifetime as Lucy kept whimpering 'I'm sorry' through her tears. 

"It's OK," Snape whispered as he cradled her in his arms. "It's not your fault, not in the slightest. It's entirely mine." 

"It is my fault!" Lucy protested through her dry throat. 

"No it's not..." Snape said as he let go of her, he dried her tears with his sleeve and then stroked her cheek with the back of his hand softly. "Now listen to me and listen good." 

"I'm listening." Lucy sniffed weakly. 

"While I'm gone I want you to be brave if you get any more visions, don't worry about them. If push comes to shove talk to Jessica about them or write to me, you can write everyday if you wish. I want you to keep practicing sword fighting despite Umbridge's rules. I want you to not cry, you can't show your weakness any longer despite how much it hurts. I also want you to continue your prefect duties, you can't stop them. You must also stay with McGuire and continue any duties about Zuc...and don't forget about your O.W.L exams, they're not far off." 

"But how can I do these duties to do with Zuc without you?" 

"You can do it without me, I have faith in you." He kissed her on the forehead. "You're a brave girl." 

"I love you," Lucy whispered as she hugged him again. 

"I love you too," he confirmed but let go of her quickly as the train whistle sounded, splitting through the silence like a knife. "I'll see you soon. I promise I'll reply to every letter that you send me." 

"I'll write as often as possible." 

Snape smiled at her then boarded the train, Lucy stood on the platform awkwardly as Snape went and sat down in one of the compartments and looked out the window at Lucy as the train began to move. 

"Good luck." Snape called as Lucy began running alongside the train. 

"Have a safe journey home!" Lucy called back. 

"Remember to study on your O.W.L.S and block any visions from Zuc — remember the occulmency lessons!" 

"I will!" She promised just as the platform ended and she grabbed hold of the railing as the train continued to make it's way along the track and back to London. 

"It won't be that bad," Fudge said as he approached her from behind and gave her a pat on the back. 

"Maybe it won't but I'm going to be rather lonely without him," Lucy sighed as the train rounded a corner and it was out of sight. "I'm used to him being there all the time for me." 

"Perhaps this is a time for you to show us how independent you can be?" Fudge suggested. "You can prove to everyone that you don't always need your father with you, you can do things for yourself." 

"You're right, I can..."

Fudge walked off back into Hogwarts castle as Lucy stood on the platform with her back straight and head held high. The breeze made the trees sway that surrounded the station, they seemed so free but it was their roots keeping them from being properly free. It somehow reminded Lucy of herself, she needed so desperately to be free but she had something rooting her there and she had to figure out how to get rid of it...but if she did she could get hurt or possibly die. 

"I don't need everyone there for me all of the time." Lucy whispered to herself and her voice was carried away on the wind as though the wind disagreed with her and thought she really did need someone. 

Be Independant. 

Those two words rattled through her head as she kicked a stone that was on the platform, it flew onto the edge of the platform before dropping down onto the train track. Lucy heard the small clatter as it made contact with the surface. 

"Accept help only when it's really needed," Lucy said to herself as she slowly turned around and saw Jessica standing there. 

"They say talking to yourself is the first sign of madness," Jessica laughed slightly. 

"What's the second sign?" Lucy asked a little amused. 

"The second sign is that you have green eyes." 

"The third?" 

"You have brown hair, the fourth is if you're a metamorphmagus and the fifth is if your name is Lucy Snape." Jessica smiled and Lucy laughed and turned on the spot. "You don't have to move out of Snape's old quarters."

"Why's that?" Lucy asked slightly confused. 

"Lets just say I'm the new Snape."

"You're going to be the Potions mistress?" 

"Umbridge agreed to it...she's replaced Professor Dumbledore as headmaster now that he's disappeared." 

"Old cow..." Lucy mumbled. "But why are you letting me stay in dad's old quarters still? You own them now." 

"I don't mind looking after you, you're part of the gifted and I'm head of the Resistance. Umbridge can't change that, no matter how much she hates you." 

"Thanks, Jessica." 

"It's no problem, Lucy." 

They smiled at each other before Lucy spoke up again. 

"If you need any advice on teaching potions you can ask me." 

"I think you'll prove useful when I start planning the lessons."

"Why don't I just be the teacher?" 

Jessica thought for a moment. "You might as well be."