"So there is a link between Harry and Voldemort," I explain my theory to Snape, Lupin, Sirius, Molly, Bill, and the other older members as we sit in the kitchen having a meeting. "This link is whats allowing him to see whats happening with Voldemort. But is also linked to the snake."

"What's yer point kid?" Moody asks.

"My point," I say to them, "is that if Harry can use it to spy on them. Then Voldemort can use it to spy on us." The all exchange looks while Snape maintains eye contact with me. "I have reason to believe Dumbledore is aware of this. And I highly doubt he'll explain it all to us. But we have to give Harry means to defend his mind."

"How?" Bill asks, "is that even a thing?"

"Occlumency," I say to them, "I was trained in it. Hence why the imperiatus curse won't affect me. But I can't teach it since I can't use magic out of school and I know for a fact the ministry would prosecute me strictly if I try to. Umbridge has informed them about me being tied deeply to Harry."

"If you can't teach it.. Who do you suppose can?" Lupin asks.

"Snape," I say flatly, "I've heard whispering about you being able to. You can teach Harry. Right?"

"Harry won't sit in a room with Snape willingly for that long," Sirius chuckles.

"I thought of that too," I say, "I'll monitor the lessons. It will make Harry trust them more and I can make sure that Snape isn't taking it to far."

"Do I... get a say?" Snape asks harshly.

"Its whats best for Harry!" Molly yells.

"Its whats best for the order," I correct, "for all of us. The longer we let him go without any checks. The bigger danger we are allowing not only for ourselves but for those kids upstairs."

"Y/n-" Tonks starts.

"No its a real threat," I snap, "so Snape either you teach him or leave!"

"Y/n!" Molly yells.

"No she's right," Moody says, "its whats best. Severus."

"Bring the boy," Snape sighs.

"I'll fetch him," Molly says rushing upstairs. Snape and I move things around the kitchen to make it easier to teach in.

"Er," Harry says to announce his presence. Harry looks between the two Slytherins in confusion.

"Sit down, Potter," Snape orders.

"You know,"Sirius says loudly, leaning back on his rear chair legs and speaking to the ceiling, "I think I'd prefer it if you didn't give orders here, Snape. It's my house, you see."

"I was supposed to see you alone, Potter," Snape says the familiar sneer curling his mouth, "but Black—"

"I'm his godfather," Sirius says.

"I am here on duty for the order," Snape says, "as instructed by Y/n. Question her is to question her father. Were you not there for the meeting? But by all means stay, Black, I know you like to feel... involved."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sirius says, letting his chair fall back onto all four legs with a loud bang.

"Merely that I am sure you must feel—ah—frustrated by the fact that you can do nothing useful," Snape says a delicate stress on the word, "for the Order."

"We are here for Harry not for you two to bicker!" I snap at the two grown men. No better than that of Draco and Harry. I turn to Harry and smile, "the Order has decided that since Dumbledore has chose to stay his distance with issues concerning you Harry that we shall henceforth decide."

"He's staying away from me?" Harry asks meekly.

"He's decided thats best," I say wearily, "moving on. We have decided its only best you begin to study Occlumency with Snape and I."

"Study what?" asks Harry blankly.

"Occlumency, Potter. The magical defense of the mind against external penetration. An obscure branch of magic, but a highly useful one," Snape says.

"Why do I have to study Occlu—thing?" he blurts out.

"Harry the details regarding why have been decided to be kept quiet. But the bottom line is that. The other members and I believe thats what you need," I say to him, "please trust me Harry."

"You will receive private lessons once a week, but you will not tell anybody what you are doing, least of all Dolores Umbridge. You understand?" Snape asks.

"Yes," Harry says, "Who's going to be teaching me?"

"I am," Snape says. I could feel the mental tantrum Harry was throwing.

"Why can't you teach Harry?" Sirius asks aggressively. "Why him?"

"I am underage," I repeat, "I can't help until we get back to Hogwarts. Even then I can't help as much as Snape can."

"I will expect you at six o'clock on Monday evening, Potter. My office. If anybody asks, you are taking Remedial Potions. Nobody who has seen you in my classes could deny you need them," Snape explains, "Y/n will say she's tutoring you."

"She's helping?" Harry asks. I nod.

"More as a mediator," I explain, "but I've perfected Occlumency. In the last couple years and I will be able to help you... as much as I can."

"6 o'clock," Snape repeats before he turns and begins to leave.

"Wait a moment," Sirius says sitting up straighter in his chair. Snape halts And turns to face Sirius.

"I am in rather a hurry, Black... unlike you, I do not have unlimited leisure time..."

"I'll get to the point, then," Sirius says, standing up. He was rather taller than Snape who, "If I hear you're using these Occlumency lessons to give Harry a hard time, you'll have me to answer to."

"How touching," Snape sneers. "But surely you have noticed that Potter is very like his father?"

"Yes, I have," Sirius says proudly.

"Well then, you'll know he's so arrogant that criticism simply bounces off him," Snape says sleekly.

"Snape," I beg him. Trying to keep a fight from happening. Sirius jumps from his chair and rushes over to the other side of room barely a foot away from Snape.

"I warned you  Snivellus," Sirius says his face barely a foot from Snape's, "I don't care if Dumbledore thinks you've reformed, I know better—"

"Sirius!" I yell.

"Oh, but why don't you tell him so?" Snape whispers. "Or are you afraid he might not take the advice of a man who has been hiding inside his mother's house for six months very seriously?"

"Tell me, how is Lucius Malfoy these days? I expect he's delighted his lapdog's working at Hogwarts, isn't he?" Sirius hisses.

"Speaking of dogs," Snape says softly, "did you know that Lucius Malfoy recognized you last time you risked a little jaunt outside? Clever idea, Black, getting yourself seen on a safe station platform... gave you a cast-iron excuse not to leave your hidey-hole in future, didn't it?" Sirius raises his wand and instinctively I follow suit points it in-between the two grown men.

"NO!" Harry yells vaulting over the table and trying to get in between us, "Sirius, don't—"

"Are you calling me a coward?" Sirius roars trying to push Harry out of the way, but Harry would not budge.

"Why, yes, I suppose I am," Snape says.

"Snape knock it off. Quit encouraging this!" I yell.

"Harry—get—out—of—it!" Sirius snarls pushing him out of the way with his free hand. The kitchen door swings open and a sea of red headed children and adults come through. I keep my hand firmly in between Sirius and Snape.

"Completely cured!" Arthur cheers happily. But they all freeze at the scene in front of them. Our wands still drawn.  "Merlin's beard," Mr. Weasley says the smile sliding off his face, "what's going on here?" We all three lower our wands still clutching them. Snape pockets his and passes by the Weasley's without a word only stopping to look back at Harry.

"Six o'clock Monday evening, Potter." Snape says.

"Thank you Snape," I say carefully. Now wearily with the Weasley's among us. As he leaves I'm left with a glaring Sirius. "Someone here has to be the adult. And seeing as you two can't put differences aside. I guess it will have to be me."

"But what's been going on?" Mr. Weasley asks again. I look to Harry then Sirius.

"Nothing, Arthur,"  Sirius says, "Just a friendly little chat between two old school friends..." With what looked like an enormous effort, he smiles. "So... you're cured? That's great news, really great..."

"Yes, isn't it?" Mrs. Weasley says leading her husband forward into a chair. "Healer Smethwyck worked his magic in the end, found an antidote to whatever that snake's got in its fangs, and Arthur's learned his lesson about dabbling in Muggle medicine, haven't you, dear?"

"Yes, Molly dear," Mr. Weasley says meekly.

"I think I'm going to go to my room," I say, "I'll be down for dinner."

****

The last dinner before our return to Hogwarts was supposed to be joyful and amazing. A celebration we our family and friends. But Sirius's pouting killed the cheerful mood. It didn't help I spent the whole meal skimming through a letter Draco had sent in response of mine.

I'm glad you arrived well. There is some trouble at home so this will be it only letter. My father has stumbled upon an issue at work. But I want to wish you a happy Christmas and I can't wait to see you back at Hogwarts love.

His father 'stumbled upon an issue at work'? That couldn't have anything to do with Arthur could it. Lucius is a bad guy but orphaning children- No not just any children the Weasley children. He wouldn't care. He would probably wipe the whole family out.

"You alright?" Ginny asks from beside me as I clutch the letter tightly.

"I'm fine," I sigh. Finally placing the letter away in my pocket. "Just order business."

*****
  The next day we were lead upon the Knight Bus and taken back to Hogwarts. Returning back to that daily grind of schooling. Upon returning I could tell there was a shift among the Slytherins. I knew it had to be something big since from big league in the house to new guys there was a certain level of coldness. As I settle my things Pansy walks into our shared room. A look of worry on her face.

"Are you okay?" I ask. Mildly concerned. Pansy entering a room with me in it without a snide comment or sour look? Something had to be up.

"I'm fine," She says, "how was your Christmas?"  The question took me back. Unless it was her attempt to confuse me I couldn't understand why she would even care.

"Now I'm really worried," I say placing my belongings onto my bed before turning to the raven hair, "Are you sure you're oka-"

"I said I'm fine Cultven!" Pansy snaps. Finally back into her usual harshness.

"Thats the spirit," I chuckle. I knew I couldn't push more. My demeanor had definitely changed due to the Order and the DA. I sigh before returning to reordering my side of the room. "If there is anything bothering you. Just know you can talk to me..... unless it's about Draco and I. Then I won't be as helpful."

"I know," she says, "goodnight."

*****

"Draco!" I yell as I run towards in as we both reach the common room. I jump onto him as I reach him. He wraps his arms around me as he catches me.

"It was only break love," Draco chuckles as I place my forehead against his.

"But I missed you," I say to him before catching his lips in a deep kiss. His lips shift to my neck before we completely pull away from the other.

"What are you going to do at the end of term?" He asks.

"Hey I've done it 4 times now. I just hate that we couldn't really talk this time," I say.

"Well we have all the time now," Draco says as he leads us to the great hall his hand in mine.

"Well actually," I say, "on top of tutoring Neville, I'm actually tutoring Harry in potions." Draco groans loudly.

"Saint Potter really?" He asks, "I mean Snape couldn't of picked anyone else. Like Granger. Or anyone else."

"I'm top of the class in potions," I say proudly, "and the most likely not to drown him in his cauldron." As we get to the great hall I could tell the shift had only really hit Slytherin. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine I just wish we had more time to hang out," Draco sighs, "as much as people don't believe it. I do want to spend time with you."

"I know," I say placing my empty hand on his cheek as we stop before sitting down. "I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing," He says as he sits down, "just know that I'm stealing you after these sessions. I might even go to McGonagall to request you as a tutor so we can actually spend sometime together."

"McGonagall would never let me be a tutor for her class," I snort, "but be my quest."

"She wouldn't let me get a tutor anyways," He shrugs as I join him sitting down to breakfast. "Maybe I can tutor you?"

"I don't need tutoring," I say.

"I know that. I just find it funny how you can literally brew any potion or do any DADA spell but you struggle with transfiguration," Draco chuckles.

"I know," I say, "which makes me have to work harder so I don't lag behind in one subject."

"Oh really? Three points behind me is behind?" He asks, "Crabbe has got a 'Dreadful' in the class he's so behind."

"Crabbe doesn't have a brain," Blaise mocks as he joins us at the Slytherin table.

"Hey!" Crabbe says.

"Yeah Crabbe has a brain. It's just as small as his dick," Theodore says from beside Blaise and Pansy.

"Hey that was my joke first!" I say harshly.

"What can I say it was a good one," Theodore shrugs.

"Back to that joke... you didn't mean it right?" Draco asks. I snort not really wanting to discuss his dick currently.

"Yeah," I say, "now come on."

******

"Shut the door behind you, Potter," Snape says as Harry joins him and I in his classroom after the days lessons.

"Please Harry?" I ask as he closes the door.

"Well, Potter, you know why you are here," Snape says.

"To learn Occlumency," I say, "from the both of us."

"I can only hope that you prove more adept at it than Potions," Snape says harshly.

"Right," Harry says tersely.

"Harry is on the average scale with potions if you are viewing it objectively. While his attention could be better. He is working on par with the majority of our year," I clarify. Snape looks at me with an eyebrow raised. Before looking back to a smirking Harry.

"This may not be an ordinary class, Potter," Snape says his eyes narrowed malevolently, "but I am still your teacher and you will therefore call me 'sir' or 'Professor' at all times."

"Yes... sir," Harry says reluctantly.

"Now, Occlumency," Snape says, "As we told you back in your dear godfathers kitchen, this branch of magic seals the mind against magical intrusion and influence."

"And seeing as Dumbledore now fully approves-"

"Why does Professor Dumbledore think I need it, sir?" Harry asks, looking directly into Snape's dark, cold eyes.

"Surely even you could have worked that out by now, Potter? The Dark Lord is highly skilled at Legilimency—"

"What's that? Sir?"

"It is the ability to extract feelings and memories from another person's mind—" I start before Harry interrupts me.

"He can read minds?" Harry asks quickly, his worst fears confirmed.

"You have no subtlety, Potter," Snape says, "You do not understand fine distinctions. It is one of the shortcomings that makes you such a lamentable potion-maker."

"Only Muggles say 'mind reading.'" I clarify.

"The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls, to be perused by any invader. The mind is a complex and many-layered thing, Potter... or at least, most minds are..." He smirks. "It is true, however, that those who have mastered Legilimency are able, under certain conditions, to delve into the minds of their victims and to interpret their findings correctly. The Dark Lord, for instance, almost always knows when somebody is lying to him. Only those skilled at Occlumency are able to shut down those feelings and memories that contradict the lie, and so utter falsehoods in his presence without detection."

"It's extremely dangerous for him to have this power. Especially over you," I tell him.

"So he could know what we're thinking right now?" He asks me.

"The Dark Lord is at a considerable distance and the walls and grounds of Hogwarts are guarded by many ancient spells and charms to ensure the bodily and mental safety of those who dwell within them," Snape answers, "Time and space matter in magic, Potter. Eye contact is often essential to Legilimency."

"Well then, why do I have to learn Occlumency?" Harry asks us.

"That's the thing. Something is different with you. We assume that when the curse failed to kill you it created a bond between you and Vold- You Know Who," I say as Snape glares at me with the slipping of Voldemort's name.

"The evidence suggests that at times, when your mind is most relaxed and vulnerable—when you are asleep, for instance—you are sharing the Dark Lord's thoughts and emotions. The headmaster thinks it inadvisable for this to continue. He wishes me to teach you how to close your mind to the Dark Lord," Snape says.

"Are we forgetting that Dumbledore refused to give me an answer for weeks on this But has decided now that it's his idea to teach Harry this?" I say harshly as Snape looks to me.

"Miss Cultven-"

"Moving On. We need this to stop," I tell him.

"But why do you want it want to stop it?" he ask abruptly. "I don't like it much, but it's been useful, hasn't it? I mean... I saw that snake attack Mr. Weasley and if I hadn't, Professor Dumbledore wouldn't have been able to save him, would he? Sir...How come I saw through the snake's eyes if it's Voldemort's thoughts I'm sharing?"

"Do not say the Dark Lord's name!" Snape spits harshly.

"Both if you stop! Why is it that men have to consistently act like children," I huff, "get over yourself." For a quick second it's quiet.

"Professor Dumbledore says his name," Harry says quietly.

"Dumbledore is an extremely powerful wizard," Snape mutters ,"While he may feel secure enough to use the name... the rest of us..." He rubs his left forearm, apparently unconsciously, on the spot the Dark Mark was burned into his skin.

"I just wanted to know," Harry begins again, "why—"

"The Snake also somehow is connected to Vo- You know who. We assume possessing it. So while he was possessing it- you saw it through his and the snakes eyes," I explain to him.

"And Vol—he—realized I was there?" Harry asks.

"It seems so," Snape says coolly.

"How do you know?" Harry asks urgently. "Is this just Professor Dumbledore guessing, or—?"

"I told you," Snape snaps, rigid in his chair, his eyes slits, "to call me 'sir.'"

"Yes, sir,"Harry says impatiently, "but how do you know—?"

"That's when Dumbledore came in. I know nothing about it," I admit, "I figured seeing as how the years have progressed that it would be beneficial."

"It is enough that we know," Snape says repressively. "The important point is that the Dark Lord is now aware that you are gaining access to his thoughts and feelings. He has also deduced that the process is likely to work in reverse; that is to say, he has realized that he might be able to access your thoughts and feelings in return—"

"And he might try and make me do things?" Harry says, "Sir?" he adds hurriedly.

"It's likely," I say, "Which brings us back to Occlumency." Snape pulls out his wand from an inside pocket of his robes and Harry tenses in his chair, but Snape merely raises the wand to his temple and placed its tip into the greasy roots of his hair. When he withdrew it, some silvery substance came away, stretching from temple to wand like a thick gossamer strand, which broke as he pulled the wand away from it and fell gracefully into the Pensieve. Twice more Snape raised the wand to his temple and deposited the silvery substance into the stone basin, then, without offering any explanation of his behavior, he picked up the Pensieve carefully, removed it to a shelf out of their way and returned to face Harry with his wand held at the ready. "Stand up and take out your wand, Potter." Harry nervously gets to his feet. A desk between the two of them. I move to Harry's side incase of an emergency. "You may use your wand to attempt to disarm me, or defend yourself in any other way you can think of."

"And what are you going to do?" Harry asks. I place my hand on his shoulder to calm him.

"Nothing That I won't let him," I say as I hold onto my wand with my other hand.

"I am about to attempt to break into your mind," said Snape softly. "We are going to see how well you resist. I have been told that you have already shown aptitude at resisting the Imperius Curse... You will find that similar powers are needed for this... Brace yourself, now... Legilimens!" Snape says. "Y/n now!"

"Legilimens!" I cast holding onto the spell weakly. Making sure not to overwhelm Harry at first. Just enough to see what we are working with. I see flashes of his memories. A small little Harry with big glasses watching a pulp small Dudley ride around with a red bike. A slightly older Harry being chased up a tree by a dog while others laugh. The sorting hat telling him he would de well in Slytherin. Hermione in the hospital wing. The last thing I see is cho before I see Harry fall and screaming making me break my link with him. On his way down he starts sending spells are sent flying around him.

"Are you okay Cultven?" Snape asks. I nod before I kneel down beside Harry who was having a bit of trouble.

"Harry?" I ask.

"I'm good," He says. I offer my hand to help him up and he quickly takes it.

"Did you mean to produce a Stinging Hex?" asked Snape coolly.

"No," said Harry bitterly, getting up from the floor.

"Did you mean to produce a stinging hex?" Snape asks Harry as he rubs his burned arm in pain.

"No," Harry says bitterly.

"I thought not," Snape says contemptuously. "You let me get in too far. You lost control."

"Did you see everything I saw?" Harry asks us.

"Flashes of it," Snape says his lip curling. "To whom did the dog belong?"

"My Aunt Marge," Harry mutters.

"It's fine Harry. This is hard. My first time they read me like a book," I admit, "that's how my dad found out who slipped a potion in the nanny's tea."

"For a first attempt that was not as poor as it might have been," Snape says. "You managed to stop me eventually, though you wasted time and energy shouting. You must remain focused. Repel me with your brain and you will not need to resort to your wand."

"I'm trying," Harry says angrily, "but you're not telling me how!"

"Manners, Potter," Snape says dangerously. "Now, I want you to close your eyes."

"Let go of all emotion..." I instruct, "breath."

"You're not doing it, Potter... You will need more discipline than this... Focus, now..." Snape says.

"He's trying as best he can," I snap.

"Fine Cultven you can cast the spell," Snape says harshly.

"Fine," I say then look back to Harry, "You okay to go again?"

"Yeah," Harry nods. I pull my wand from my pocket point it towards him.

"On the count of three... one—two—three—Legilimens!" I say pointing it towards him. I see flashes of a dragon, then his parents, then Cedric Diggory laying dead. 

"NOOOOOOO!" Harry yells. He hits me with a knockback jinx. Smacking me into the stash of potions. One of the bottles smashing and spilling its contents onto my arm. 

"Son of a bitch!" I hiss as the potion starts to burn my skin as I hear Harry scream. Then I see him once again on his knees with his face buried in his hands.

"Get up!" Snape says sharply. "Get up! You are not trying, you are making no effort, you are allowing me access to memories you fear, handing me weapons!"

"He's doing the best he can Snape!" I yell at him as I hold my now blistering wound. 

"Y/n are you okay?" Harry asks pointing to my arm.

"No you imbecile. This is the direct effect of you're emotions running wild," Snape says, "Cultven get to the hospital wing and see if Madam Pomfrey can help you."

"No its fine-" I say before stops me.

"Go now," He says sending me off. I pull away from them and look apologetically to Harry.

"I hope you're okay," Harry says as I walk off and rush up to the hospital wing. Why does being around Harry get so damn dangerous?